




"^oV* 



.- JP-^^. V 







' *^ 



%/ /Jifa^ \„./ .'«^"= ^^..♦^ /^ 



'o^«b- 



V'^^ 




^ «> ♦ 4? *^. "^ 










^^°-< 



.«^'%.. V 



















AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CLOCK, 



OTHER POEMS. 



BY MARY CUTTS. 



tr^ 



' 'Tis my delight, alone in summer shade, 
To pipe a simple song for thinking hearts.' 




BOSTON: 
WM. CROSBY AND H. P. NICHOLS. 

NEW YORK : C. S. FRANCIS & CO. 

1852. 

7/ 



T& 14-'?'? 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by 

MARY CUTTSi 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 



BOSTON : 

PKINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON, 
22, School Stkeex. 



CONTENTS, 



PAOB 

Rambling 1 

The Blasted Pine 4 

Autumn 7 

Thy God forget not 9 

Lines accompanying a King, when returned to' its Owner. 12 

On Leaving the Home and Scenes of my Youth . . 16 

Sea Shells 20 

The White Mountains 23 

To the Connecticut 25 

An Epistle 27 

Lament of Montezuma 30 

Seizure of Montezuma 32 

Death of Montezuma 35 

Pocahontas 38 

The Wild Ammonoosuck 40 

My Brother 41 

The Shipwreck 43 

A Story I have Heard, versified 45 

The Imprisoned Eagle . . . . • • .49 

The Mother ^^ 



iv CONTENTS. 

FAOE 

An Epistle 56 

On the Death of W. J 60 

The Schoolmaster 62 

Melancholy 64 

An Allegory, versified 68 

Lines addressed to an Aged Relative . . . . 69 

To a Friend 72 

A True Story 74 

On the Death of F. T. G 80 

An Epistle 83 

Green Mountain Song, as sung by the Cheney Family . 87 

Beflections when contemplating Forest-trees in Autumn 89 

" The Anguish of Bereavement " 91 

On the Death of a Young Clergyman .... 94 
The Fated .• . . . . *. . . .96 

To a Parent 97 

The Sailor-boy 100 

Upon hearing a Bird sing for the First Time in Spring 105 
Yes, we must leave these Transitory Scenes . . .107 

To Bertha 109 

Epistle Ill 

My Sister 115 

The Woods, written in Sickness 120 

On the Death of a Friend 123 

A Retrospection 125 

lines 128 

Mackenzie's " Man of Feeling " 130 

Vermont Winter Song, as sung by the Cheney Family 132 

Epistle 135 

Mary and Hampden 138 



CONTENTS. ▼ 

PAGE 

The Mexican Woman 140 

Song 141 

On the Death of a Friend's Favorite Dog . , . 143 

The First Name 146 

Vain World, adieu . 148 

Upon visiting the Congressional Cemetery . . . 150 

My Old Book-case 152 

Epistle 155 

Place not your Hopes on Things of Earth . . . 162 

The Bed of Death 164 

" Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall 

not pass away " 166 

♦' Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the 

world" 168 

Joseph and his Brethren . 171 

Jephthah's Vow 175 

Solomon's Prayer 179 

Blind Bartimeus 181 

The Raising of Lazarus 184 



The Autobiography of a Clock 189 



POEMS. 



POEMS 



RAMBLING. 

Ah, yes, my country ! I do love to roam 
Amid thy forests and thy hills sublime ; 

Oft do thy wilds imagination rouse, 

And call up vivid scenes of vanished time. 

As slow I tread thy solitudes profound. 

And gaze on mountain-height or towering tree, 

Or mark the sunny sparkling river glide 
For ever on, unweariedly and free, — 

I think of other days, of other times. 

When o'er that glittering surface swiftly fleWy 

Light as a feather wafts in summer gale, 
The swarthy Indian's delicate canoe. 
1 



Yes, on this quiet spot, wliere now I rest. 
The tired warrior may have found repose; 

Here may the white man's deeds have thrilled his soul, 
Or here, perchance, the startling war-cry rose. 

In yonder vale, full many a dark-eyed girl 
In meditation may have loved to stray. 

Or laughingly have bounded o'er the wild 
To cull sweet flowerets for a chaplet gay. 

And scenes of savage cruelty and ire 

May once, alas ! have been enacted here ; 

Ay, deeds of blood too horrible to know. 

Bidding the white man, brave, to thrill with fear. 

And here may thoughts all unexpressed have been. 

Feelings unuttered, aspirations high, 
Poetic visions beautiful as hope, 

Rich musings born for immortality. 

But all is quiet now, as if no sound 

Could e'er have broken on the stillness here ; 

And, of the banished rover of the wild. 
No trace is seen, no relic doth appear. 



3 



Calmly the river flows in peace along; 

It tells no tale, lisps not of former day ; 
And, proud and silent as the race of yore. 

Yon mighty, pendent, noble branches play. 

Yet Time, with ceaseless wing, goes ever on : 
O'er each delight, where'er mine eye can range ; 

On vale and hill, on rivulet and tree, — 

O'er all things lovely there will come a change. 

And where my feet now press the mossy bank. 
Where the soft zephyr 'mid the forest sighs. 

May the gay city's busy hum be heard. 
And temples fair and palaces arise. 

Changing, for ever changing all we know : 

Spring with her sweets, resplendent autumn gay, 

Man with his god-like genius and his strength. 
Proud thrones and kingdoms, all must pass away. 

And this is life : great Nature doth inscribe 

On all her works those touching words. No more 

May it not 'mind us of that coming change. 
Greater than all, when human life is o'er 1 



THE BLASTED PINE. 



It rose from 'mid the forest wild, 
Unbending, firm, alone. 

And bright and beautiful its garb, 
In radiant sunbeam shone. 



It towered in fearless majesty. 

As mighty monarch proud, 
While many a noble tree around 

In meek submission bowed. 

Unheeded drooped the graceful elm. 

The aspen trembled nigh ; 
None, none, in all the forest gay. 

With thee, proud one, could vie. 

Thou king of trees ! I've gazed on thee 

With wonder and delight. 
Nor ever deemed that aught but time 

Thy towering head would blight. 



I've watched, amid thy dark-green boughs, 

The wild bird build her nest. 
Delighted, as I thought, to find 

Such lofty place of rest. 

I've seen morn's first awakening beam 

With glory tinge thy head, 
And evening's gentle farewell ray 

A softer beauty shed. 

I've gazed on thee in love and pride, 

I've watched thee day by day ; 
Thou seemed created to command, 

Thy subjects to obey. 

One moment thus, — the next, alas ! 

Thy noble trunk is riven, 
Thy form enveloped in a shroud /pn-^^T^ r^ 

Of sacred fire from heaven 



^---^-^>^ 



Scorched, blasted, withered now, proud one, 

Thy melancholy air 
Seems that of conquered hero brave. 

In bitter, mute despair. 



6 



I mourn, I mourn thee, blighted one 

For I remember thee 
In days of sorrow and of grief, 

In days of joy and glee. 

But now, alas ! nor sun nor breeze. 
Nor singing bird, nor rain, 

Will ever, ever, call thee back 
To gladsome life again. 

The ivy soft may cling around. 
In sunshine and in storm ; 

The morning and the evening dew 
With tears may bathe thy form : 

'Tis all in vain, for nought can e'er 
Revive thy beauty more : 

Farewell to thee, thou stricken one ! 
Thy day of pride is o'er ! 

And thus, methought, it is in life ; 

The haughtiest brow must quail, 
While meek and unassuming worth 

Droops not 'mid earthly gale. 



AUTUMN. 



Again, witli radiant mantle round him cast, 

Shading with roseate tints his pensive brow, 

Sad Autumn comes. Hail to thee, season fair t 

For fair thou art and beautiful ; although 

Thy smiles are fleeting as the morning dew, 

And o'er thy brow full many a passing cloud 

Most ominously rests. Yet, Autumn wild, 

Still d^I love thee, changeful as thou art. 

And when thy blighted gems are falling fast^ 

Decking the faded earth with dazzling hues 

Of beauty, lovelier far than art, 

With her unwearied skill, did e'er create ;: 

And when upon the ear thy rushing breeze 

Comes chill and wild, whispering of coming gloom 

And desolation, — then, then, apart. 

With Contemplation sweet, oh, let me stray ! 

Just such is all the beauty of this earth : 

Its pride and grandeur all must pass away, 

E'en as the summer flower or autumn tint. 



8 



Season of grace ! how softly o'er the soul 

Thy influence steals ! and how thy deep, 

Thy touching pensiveness, within the heart 

Doth find an answering note, that vibrates 

At thy will ! Yes, much I love 

Thy deep, soul-stirring beauties. Autumn wild. 

Thy moonlights and thy starlights are more fair, 

More beautiful, than those of other times ; 

And thy soft, sunny days come o'er the soul 

Like the last beaming smiles of those we love. 

Ah ! wherefore, wherefore is it that decay 

So mingle^ with thy beauty, radiant king 1 

Alas ! it forms a part ; it is the soul, 

The spirit of thy power ; that power which speaks 

So touchingly to all. 



THY GOD FORGET NOT. 



Thy God forget not, when serene 

Thy life is passing by, 
When joy is swelling thy young heart. 

And glowing hopes are high ; 
Forget not Him who giveth thee 

Thy all of bliss on earth ; 
Forget not Him from whom thy joys. 

Thy pure delights, have birth. 

Thy God forget not, thou who art 

Immersed in worldly care ; 
Place not thy dearest hopes on earth ; 

Immortal man, beware ! 
Ah ! what has earth thy noble soul. 

Thy spirit, to endear 1 
Thy God forget not, or in vain 

Is all thy labor here. 



10 



Thy God forget not, thou who till'st 

With joy the fertile soil; 
Forget not Him who doth reward 

Thee richly for thy toil ; 
Forget Him not whose tender love 

Unfolds the floweret gay, 
Bids the sweet warbler charm thine ear. 

And makes the rill to play. 

Sailor, on the boisterous deep, 

Far, far from native strand, 
When thou beholdst his power and might. 

The wonders of his hand, 
Thy God forget not ; and, when wild 

The heaving billows rave. 
Forget not Him who rviles the sea, 

And stills the stormy wave. 

Captive, in the stranger land, 

From dearest joys afar, 
Whose heart with longing hope doth turn 

To where thy loved ones are. 
Forget not Him whose power divine 

Can bid thy sorrow cease, 
Who, to the wounded, trustful heart. 

Will ever whisper peace. 



11 



Thy God forget not, mortal man, 

Whate'er thy lot may be ; 
Forget not Him, 'mid weal or woe. 

Who ever cares for thee. 
Thy God forget not ; and his power, 

His love, will bless thee ever. 
Will soothe thee on the bed of death. 

And will forsake thee never. 



12 



LINES 



ACCOMPANYING A KING, WHEN RETURNED TO ITS 
OWNER. 



Behold me here a little ring, 

That wandered from its owner fair ; 

'Mid strange and various scenes I've been 
Since last I breathed my native air. 

Far, far away I've ta'en my flight, 

Through valleys, streams, and forests gay ; 

I've climbed the mountain's lofty height. 
And seen the wild-bird round me play. 

Now, in a drawing-room displayed, 
I've gloried in my pearly dress ; 

Now, left alone in gloom and shade. 
Have mused upon its worthlessness. 



13 



Now brought to light, and wafted 'mid 
Melodious sounds right merrily ; 

Now, hid beneath a glove of kid, 
Have gone to rest right wearily. 

Now from a finger gaily took, 

Without one thought of me or mine ; 

Now with a pensive air and look, 
And a soft kiss, because Fm thine. 



In short, I must impart to thee, 

Although at times I've known delight. 

That she to whom you trusted me 

Is a most strange and wayward wight. 

'Tis ever sweet to me to stray 

Through Nature's own enchanting bowers ; 
To watch the dying sun's last ray. 

And kiss the gentle, bonny flowers. 

Ah, freedom 's sweet ! and so thinks she 
Who late the care of me has had ; 

For, to be candid now with thee, 
I think she dearly loves to gad. 



14 



But seldom, seldom did she take 
Me with her on her rambles sweet : 

I've often thought my heart would break 
To be shut up from week to week. 

Sometimes, when riding far away, 
She'd condescend to let me go ; 

But of my treatment must I say ? 

I fear 'twill grieve you much to know. 

Alas ! it many a tear hath cost ; 

But she, as cunning as a fox. 
Under pretence I might be lost, 

Would often shut me in a box ! 



Sometimes released one little day, 
And fluttered for an hour or so ; 

And then again condemned to stay 
In gloom and solitude and woe, — 

For many a long and weary hour. 

Ah, dearest ! if it must be told, 
I think she loves a simple flower 

Far better than my pearl and gold. 



15 



So much for her : now, for such woe, 
I beg you, my dear friend, to say, 

That she has made me undergo, 
Am I not right to run away ? 

For, notwithstanding all my grace, 
I do believe, were't not for thee, 

She'd ne'er have noticed my sweet face, 
Or ever cared a straw for me. 



16 



ON LEAVING THE HOME AND SCENES OF MY 
YOUTH. 



And is it so, and must I bid farewell 

To this endeared, this long-familiar spot ? 

And can I ever hope again to find 

As beautiful a home ? Ah ! other scenes 

May truly be as fair ; the loving moon 

May o'er them throw her light, and beaming stars 

Come twinkling through the heavens ; yet will they, 

Will they be to me as dear, to me as beauteous 1 

Oh ! not on earth is there a spot so sweet 

As where the heart first learnt to worship nature ; 

First lisped its infant prayer ; first felt the glow 

Of filial love ; and hearkened to the voice. 

The soft parental voice, of tenderness, 

Soothing its little cares, or mild imparting 

Precepts of virtue and of purity ! 

And can I bid farewell to this dear place, 
To all that I have loved, — the quiet grove. 



17 



The softly flowing stream, the cherished flowers, 
The fair and gentle flowers that breathe of Heaven ? 

My early Home ! how oft at eve I've watched, 

With softened heart, the moonbeams round thee play, 

Just tinging here and there with silvery light 

Thy clustering foliage, while breezes soft 

Would wave so gracefully the pendent boughs ! 

How oft, in blithesome hour, amid thy rural, 
Peaceful paths, I've strayed, and held sweet converse 

With the loved and cherished ! 

How oft in pensive mood thy charms have shed 

An influence soothing o'er my spirit sad ! 

And must I bid adieu to thee, my Home 1 

Joy hath not set her seal on thee alone, 

For sorrow too, alas ! hath hallowed thee. 

Ah ! where is he Avhose dear, whose much-loved form 

Called forth such joy and gladness when beheld; 

He who so gayly, in the blithesome sport, 

Would mingle oft, and ever gently soothe. 

Whene'er with grief oppressed, our troubled hearts ; 

Who oft would stray around our happy home, 

And nature's various beauties bid me ken, 

From the mild glories of the evening sky, 

E'en to the insect sporting joyously? 



18 

Parent beloved ! and art thou gone for ever 1 

Gone from among us ? — from thy loved ones gone 1 

And shall I never listen to that voice, 

Or gaze on that benignant eye, again ? 

Oh ! never more on earth can we behold 

That form revered. There is a world on high. 

Where spirits such as thine must ever dwell ; 

And there we'll trust to meet thee, — trust that He 

"Who ever watches o'er the fatherless 

Will aid us to avoid the sins of life. 

That we again may meet thee there — in Heaven. 

And tears have flowed for other woes than this : 
Scenes of my early day, my infant life, 
E'en sorrow hath endeared you ; but we part. 
I leave for aye each object long beloved. 
And find, far, far away, another home. 

Oh ! it is sweet to think, 'tis sweet to know. 
That this sad earth is not our resting-place. 
'Tis but a few, a very few short years. 
And then the scenes that know us now, again 
Will know us never. Then sure it is not meet 
That our aff'ections on the things of earth 

Too strong should rest. 

Yet ah for human nature ! 'tis so frail 



19 



That e'en the breaking of such ties as these 

Is agonizing. My Home ! my early Home ! 

Again do fond associations rise, 

And all the tender ties by which I'm bound to thee 

Rush o'er my soul. Yet, ah ! we part, we part : 

I ne'er on earth can know a home so sweet. 

But yet, adieu ! — we part, we part for ever! 



20 



SEA SHELLS. 



Bright, radiant shells from foreign climes, 

How beautiful ye are. 
Decked with the roseate tints ye bring 

From native shore afar ! 



I love your colors and your shine, 
Stray ones from other shores ; 

But yet a deeper grace ye have, 
A dearer charm is yours. 

Ye bring the mighty ocean's roar 

Within your little space, 
As if no change, no new abode. 

Its memory could efface. 

Ah ! others praise your glowing hues. 

More wonderful to me 
Than even the most gorgeous tints, 

These whispers of the sea. 



21 



They seem to speak of hidden power, 

And yet it is not so ; 
Strange, strange, it is that ye should bring 

The raging water's flow. 

Ah ! is it strange that what we love 

In joyous, early day, 
Should never, never, from the soul. 

The spirit, fade away 1 

Then sing, sweet shells, sing on, and tell 

Of the old ocean's roar : 
It was your first love, and aught else 

Shall vanish that before. 



When first created, weak and frail. 
The mighty sound ye heard ; 

And now, no music of the land. 
No zephyr, song of bird. 

Will e'er efface it. Be it so. 

Sing on ; ye bring to me 
The dashing bound, the foaming spray. 

The glory of the sea. 



22 



I seem to view the curling wave, 

I hear the whizzing gush, 
As bright and clear, as swift and bold, 

The sparkling waters rush. 

Then ever breathe the song to me 

That tells of native shore ; 
I love your beauty : for this charm, 

Bright ones, I love you more. 



23 



THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. 



It is the Sabbath : 'mid these mounts sublime, 

Far from the busy world's unthinking gaze, 

I stray. It is the Sabbath : at this holy time 

Methinks in more sublimity they raise, 

These towering, mighty hills, their lofty heads. 

Sure, sure they seem to speak, to tell of Him, 

The Author of all nature ; He who formed. 

Who bid them rise and stand unrivalled here. 

Magnificent, sublime, majestic, grand ! 

Ay, solemn speakers, beautiful ye are ; 

I love, I love to gaze upon your heights. 

Where were ye when the deluge o'er the world 

Poured its vast torrents, — when the whirlwind came, 

And the scared bellowing earth rocked to and fro ? 

'Tis said ye then were here, that 'mid the throes 

Of wild convulsive nature ye stood firm : 

Say, is it so, proud towerers of the earth ? 

And have ye, then, so many ages been 1 



24 



111 solemn, awful grandeur have ye seen 

The mighty tempests play, the lightnings flash, 

And heard the thunders loud re-echo round. 

Long prior to the time when Sinai's mount 

Did quake and tremble, while majestic clouds, 

Dark, dark as darkest night, did round it play, 

And God's own voice was heard in thunders there ? 

We know not of your origin, vast ones ; 

But this, oh ! this we know, that most sublime. 

Most beautiful, ye are ; oh ! what to you 

Is all the pride of man, the glitter and the show 

Of human life ? How all the vain exploits. 

The worshipped baubles, and the countless strifes, 

Shrink into nothing as I gaze on you ! 

E'en now the sunlight streaming o'er your heights 

Adds a new glory to your lofty brows. 

While rocks and trees and forests vast are naught 

On the far-stretching surface ye display. 

But I must leave you, aspirants of Heaven ! 

Ah ! in the calm serenity of life. 

And 'mid its wayward storms and tempests rude, 

May I, as ye, aspire to other scenes. 

And ever look above, my God, to thee ! 



25 



TO THE CONNECTICUT. 



Flow on, thou sweet river, 

Unruffled and free, 
Ah ! what may compare. 

Gentle stream, unto thee ? 
More sublime and more grand 

Other waters I've known : 
For beautiful calmness 

Thou reignest alone. 

How light o'er thy surface 

The mild zephyrs glide ! 
How graceful the foliage 

That bends o'er thy tide ! 
No billows to roughen, 

No waves to molest. 
But all calm*fBii all beauteous 

Thy soft shadows rest. 



Oh ! not like an emblem 

Of life's troubled dream 
Art thou in thy beauty, 

Thou soft-flowing stream : 
Like the sweet dreams of childhood 

Thy mild waters flow, 
Like bright visions of youth 

Ere the heart wakes to woe. 

And oh ! when religion, 

Divine, o'er the soul, 
With faith never doubting, 

Holds sacred control, 
Then, then the calm spirit, 

Froni dark passions free. 
Will in beauty compare, 

Gentle river, to thee. 



27 



AN EPISTLE 



A6AIN my pen in hand I take ; 
Again, my muse, thou must awake. 
And aid me, as my thoughts may wend, 
O'er mount and vale, to mountain-friend. 
Arouse thee, then, thou silent one. 
Arouse thee ; for the summer sun 
Is tinging with his latest beam 
The mount and valley, rock and stream. 
Arouse thee ; for the gentle flower 
Is fading from the grove and bower. 
Arouse thee ; for the autumn leaf 
Is mingling with the golden sheaf. 
Time's rapid progress naught can break, 
And thou sleep'st on, — arouse ! awake ! 
Alas ! alas I she will not wake. 
Will not compassion on me take. 
But coldly says, " For verse like this 
Ask not my aid." What haughtiness ! 
Again she speaks, " With silly rhyme 
Expect not my ideas to chime ; 



28 



Letters I think beneath me quite, 
They are not worth one lofty flight." 
Then, madam, find employment better ; 
I love an unpretending letter ; 
They're friendship's offerings, dearer far 
Than all your flighty visions are ; 
And if for such you aid refuse, 
With joy I write without my muse. 

This matter settled, I commence 

To write at least plain common sense ; 

I mean I hope plain sense to write. 

Although at times I do not, quite. 

And has indeed the summer gay, 

Another summer, passed away 1 

How rapidly these seasons go ! 

It is a subject trite, I know ; 

Yet one we creatures of a day 

Must not in folly spurn away ; 

For nearer, nearer to the goal. 

The final haven of the soul. 

They bring us as they glide along. 

And if we could the time prolong. 

Should we grow wiser, thinkest thou ? 

Ah ! not if we reject the now. 

The present time, — 'tis all in all ; 

The past we never can recall ; 



29 



The future, — there may he none, — we 
Are bounding o'er a billowy sea, 
That every moment may ingulf. 
But you may say, enough, enough 
Of sober talk, — my friend, not so. 
You love reflection well, I know ; 
Would all did love it ! It is strange, 
When o'er the world the mind doth range, 
To find how much of heartless glee. 
How much of silly vanity. 
There is in it. What time, my friend. 
To please the worldly eye, we spend ; 
To please the eyes of those we know 
Care little for us ; ay, bestow 
But very seldom e'en a thought 
On us or ours ; and then 'tis fraught. 
It may be, with condemning ire. 
Ah that the spirit would aspire. 
Far oftener, to please that Eye 
Which ever, ever from on high 
Regards us with a glance of love ; 
That Being who will sure approve 
Each wish devout, each gentle thought, 
To pleasure others as we ought ! 



m 



THE LAMENT OF MONTEZUMA. 



" Ah ! wherefore urge resistance now 1 " 

The grief-struck monarch said : 
" No more shall Aztec chief go forth 
By Montezuma led. 
They come, they come, the chosen race 

My oracles foretold : 
Oh ! what, alas ! is now the worth 
Of Montezuma's gold ? 

" I feel, indeed, there is a strength, 

A might to us unknown, 
Possessed by him, this being strange, 

This lord of other zone. 
No more shall Montezuma hold. 

Unchecked, imperial sway ; 
His broad domain, his golden dreams, 

Are all to pass away. 



3i 



" With miglity rush, would I could lead 

My warriors to the field ! 
Never before was foe too brave 

To Mexican to yield. 
But, ah ! no more can I exult ; 

This once proud spirit fails ; 
The gods, the gods, oppose us now. 

And Montezuma quails. 

" Yet sad the doom : was it for this 

The Aztec banner free 
Has waved from provinces remote 

To yonder gushing sea ? 
Was it for this, with glittering gems, 

Ye decked your monarch's brow 1 
Alas ! than ours a mightier race 

Must glory in them now. 

" They come," the monarch said again ; 

" My destiny I know ; 
Deck me in richest robes of state, 

To meet this conquering foe : 
I long defiance to proclaim, 

And can it never be ? " 
He turned, and o'er his cheek there rolled 

The tear of agony. 



32 



THE SEIZURE OF MONTEZUMA. 



He gazed upon the Spaniards stern, 

In confidence and trust ; 
Deeming them godlike as they seemed, 

Unwaveringly just ; 
He looked in kindness, till the word 

They boldly did impart 
Was no mistaken sound, and then 

Amazement filled his heart. 

Wondering he gazed, and pale as death 

He stood before them now ; 
Yet in a moment came the flush 

Of pride upon that brow. 
" When was it ever heard," he said, 

" That monarch like to me 
Forsook his palace and his home 

Of joy and liberty, — 



33 



" To bow a prisoner in the hands 

Of strangers from afar ? 
Would ye my freedom and my state, 

My glorious rights, debar ? 
Cease, cease to vex an Aztec prince 

With such degrading word : 
Ah ! well for you it is, 'twas not 

By my brave subjects heard." 

The monarch ceased, and threats arose 

From fiery cavalier ; 
Ay, threats of violence and death 

Did Montezuma hear. 
He looked around for sympathy, — 

Alas ! he found it not ; 
All but one daring deed appeared. 

That hour, as if forgot. 

Ah ! who can tell the harrowing thoughts 

That wrung his bosom then. 
As gazed this proud but stricken prince 

On these stern-hearted men ? 
No hope illumined his dark eye, 

As lone he stood and dumb : 
He felt the iron in his soul, 

He knew his liour had come. 
3 



34 



With voice from deep emotion low, 

He spoke the dreaded word ; 
Within this palace never more 

That voice again was heard. 
Ah, Montezuma ! better far, 

Would hearts uncrushed declare. 
Than to have passed thy threshold thus. 

Have left thy life-blood there. 



35 



THE DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. 



Fiercely the battle raged, and shrieks of woe, 
With clashing loud of savage weapons rude. 
And the deep thundering din of mighty fight, 
Commingled with the startling battle-cry, 
As the subdued and dying Montezuma lay 
Heart-stricken on his couch. Thoughts unrevealed, 
Too mighty to express, conflicting, strange, 
Were swelling in his bosom. Where were now 
The days of pomp and state he once had known. 
The days of conquest and of glorious war ? 
Where were the subjects, who, at glance of his. 
Would deem it bliss his summons to obey. 
Or bend the knee in adoration low ? 
Alas ! his glory, it had passed away ; 
And lie, an outcast, in the stranger's hall 
Was drawing his last breath. "It is in vain, 
He mentally exclaimed, " it is in vain, 
Brave Aztecs, now to bid the white man yield. 
My country ! once all-glorious in thy might ; 



36 



My country, with thy heaven-soaring hills, 

Thy forests vast, and mines of glittering gold ; 

My country, thou art doomed ! I know it well : 

The stranger's iron hand is on thee now, 

And thou must yield — the gods have willed it so. 

I've felt it long. Oft in the battle-hour, 

Amid the triumph of victorious war, 

O'er my excited spirit there has come, 

All suddenly, a change, a solemn change. 

Or in the peaceful hall, when pleasure spread 

Her softest arts to lure my heart to joy. 

At once within my bosom would arise 

A fear, a sad presentiment of ill. 

I felt, I knew, that all must pass away. 

Another race were soon to triumph here : 

Another race must till this beauteous land : 

And Montezuma, with his royal state. 

His coronals of gold, his mines of wealth, — 

Ay, Montezuma soon, alas ! must be 

As though he ne'er had been." 

And now there. stood, 
Saddened, around the dying monarch's couch. 
The Spanish conquerors brave. And one was there 
Whom Montezuma loved. Though, were it not 
For him, the valiant Cortes, well he knew 



37 



His royal crown might still have decked his brow ; 
And his loved country gloried, as of yore, 
In her surpassing, never-conquered strength. 
Yet various, as was said, the feelings were 
That thrilled the heart of Montezuma now ; 
And, turning on the Spanish cavalier 
His faded, dying eye, he feebly said, — 
" White man, the land is thine ; ay, soldier brave, 
"A monarch bows submissive to the gods ; 
And this, O mighty stranger ! is the last, 
The last sad tear that ever more will steal 
O'er Montezuma's cheek. Farewell ! and oh, 
Hemember those I love, the tender ones 
I leave forsaken now! Thy master great. 
Thy emperor beyond the mighty sea. 
Will care for them, were 't only for the love 
I've shown to thee and thine, — a love, alas ! 
So fatal, it hath brought me to this hour. 
And yet, for this, I bear thee no ill-will." 

'Twas his last word — the conquered Indian died. 



38 



POCAHONTAS. 



"Pocahontas, the king's favorite daughter (at that time a child of twelve or 
thirteen years of age), finding that her piteous entreaties to saA^e the Hfe of Smith 
were unavailing, rushed forward, clasped his head in her arms, and laid her own 
upon it, determined either to save his life or share his fate." 



He stood 'mid his dark savage foemen alone, 

No comrade to cheer him, no white friend was there; 

'Mid glances terrific his spirit quailed not, 

Though clear on his broad brow was written despair. 

The weapons were raised, and his head was bent low. 
The last ray of hope from his bosom had* fled ; 

O moment of anguish ! a few hellish blows, 

And, brave being, brave soldier, thou art with the dead. 

But, hark ! through the circle a soft rush is heard, 
" O father ! dear father ! protect liim ! oh, save ! " 

Ah, see ! a young head on the prostrate reclines. 
And a soft female arm doth encircle the brave. 



39 



The warriors drew back, struck with awe at the sight ; 

On this beautiful being with rapture they gazed : 
Ah ! well might these wild, savage lovers of death, 

At such mercy, such virtue sublime, be amazed ! 

But the father, — that stern, iron heart is now touched, 
Is soft as an infant's, though swelling with pride : 

" My daughter heroic, my own dearest one, 

The life of the captive I spare thee," he cried. . 



'^<dAY%^1^'^^ (Ui^Lul^ - 



40 



THE WILD AMMONOOSUCK. 



O THE wild Ammonoosuck ! the wild Ammonoosuck ! 

Did you ever, did you ever, see the wild Ammonoo- 
suck ? , 

As you stray 'mid New Hampshire's bright scenery, 
fair, \^ 

You may see it soft rushing, now here and now there. 

Now it winds round the mountain, now plays o'er the 
green, 

Delighting and cheering us wherever seen. 

Now it peeps through the rocks, and comes down with 

a bound ; 

Now it gurgles and dances around and around ; 

■ ^ * 

Now it dashes and foams like a miniature sea ; 

Now softly glides by, unimpeded and free ; 
Now close it will murmur, then far it Avill stray. 
Ever laughing and playing wherever it may. 
O the wild Ammonoosuck ! the wild Ammonoosuck ! 
Did you ever, did you ever, see the wild Ammonoo- 
suck ? 



41 



MY BROTHER. 



My brother ! 'tis a name most dear to me. 

In infancy I do remember well 

How much I loved my brother. He was my 

Friend and playmate from my earliest years ; 

The happy sharer of each joyous sport, 

And ever the partaker of my griefs, 

The wayward, tiny griefs of infancy. 

We loved each other well : as years advanced, 

Did we love less, my brother 1 Ah ! did not 

With our growth affection grow, and strengthen • 

With our strength ? 

'Tis pleasant to look back upon those days 
When we were careless, laughing children, brother. 
Dost thou remember our light, merry talk, 
And sage conclusions, when, with hand in hand 
Together linked, they sent us off to school ? 
With what infantile glee we'd trudge along. 
Delighted with each other's childish thoughts ! 
And then, how sweet to linger by the way. 
To cull the pretty floweret ; or to chase. 



42 



With light and joyous step, the butterfly, 
As she went winging on from flower to flower ! 
And oh ! when winter, chilling, wild, and rude, 
Came in his snowy mantle all arrayed, 
Placed in our little carriage, side by side. 
How pleased, delighted, were we to be drawn 
O'er the bright, glittering frost, with rapid step ! 
Then, from the plaided cloak and little hood, 
Our tiny faces would come laughing out, 
Expressive of such joyousness of soul 
As bid defiance to the wintry blasts. ' 

Ah ! those were happy days ! and much we've known 
Of life's heart- wearing changes since, my brother ! 
Yes, many an adverse wind hath o'er us swept 

With wild, ungentle motion. 

There has been sorrow on our path ; intense, 
Subduing sorrow. Yet, 'mid its darkest night. 
We've ever felt the mercy and the love 
Of Him who ne'er forsakes his stricken ones. 
And, in the griefs as in the joys of life. 
Thou, to thy sister's heart, hast ever been 
Most dear, my brother ! And, be our days 
Or long or short on earth, we yet will trust 
AfFection may not languish : may its torch 
Burn on still brighter, till, in heaven at last, 
A more congenial, dearer home it finds ! 



43 



THE SHIPWRECK. 



■ Kiss me, papa," said the little fellow : " we shall soon meet no more.' 



They stood upon a sea-girt rock, 
The storm raged loud and wild ; 

In silent agony of soul, 

The father clasped his child. 

Yon lofty vessel in her pride 
No more will ride the wave, 

And many a gallant heart is doomed 
To an untrodden grave. 

The father gazed upon his boy ; 
It was his only one : 

" Is this, alas ! to be thy fate, 
My beautiful, my son ? " 



44 



The child clung closer to his breast ; 

" Save me, papa ! " he said ; 
And looked up in his father's face, 

From whom all hope had fled, 

With such a sweet beseeching air 
As wrung the parent's heart ; 

But, ah ! that face no gleam, no ray, 
Of comfort could impart. 

" Dear father ! kiss me," said the child ; 

We soon shall meet no more." 
Fear not, sweet boy ! the mighty deep 

Its treasures must restore. 

And ye may meet where storms come not. 

Where tempests never beat ; 
AVhere hotli shall find a Father's love, — 

Fond spirits, ye may meet. 



45 



A STORY I HAVE HEARD. 

VERSIFIED. 



I WAS but five — ah ! only five years old 

When my dear mother died ; but, even now, 

Though long, long years since then have passed away, 

Her image is distinct before mine eye 

As at her death. Well do I recollect 

Her sweet, benignant smile, her placid brow, 

Her eye of tenderness, and look of love. 

And when I cried for naught, as children will. 

There was a trembling mildness in her voice 

That always touched my heart. Ah me ! how fair. 

How very fair, she was ! how soft and gentle, 

Kind and good to all ! E'en now, methinks, 

I see her angel-form before me pass. 

Her blue eyes moist with sorrow for my faults. 

And hear her say, in sweet, persuasive tone, 

" My child, my child, how can you grieve me thus ? " 

I recollect that for some time she had 

Been pale and feeble ; oft, too, would there come 



46 



A bright spot on her cheek, that made her look 
So lovely, I would gaze delightedly. 
And think she surely must be well. But yet 
She sometimes spoke of dying, e'en to me ; 
And then with such a gentle look would take 
Me to her heart, that tears would roll adown 
My infant cheeks I scarcely could tell why. 
Oh, then, how fond, how tender her embrace ! 
And then she'd say, " Be good when I am gone, 
Be very good, and love your father well ; 
For he will have no one to love him then, 
My child, but thee ! " 

Alas ! I recollect 
That she was sick all day ; and all my toys, 
My whip and hobby-horse, were laid aside ; 
And I did try, yes, very hard I tried. 
To make no noise, but good and quiet be. 
They would not let me see her all the day ; 
How very long it seemed ! and then, at night. 
My mother was too sick to kiss her boy. 
As she had ever, ever, done before. 
But, oh ! I felt I could not go to bed 
Without this kiss ; and stole into her room. 
*' Mother, dear mother ! won't you kiss me now ? 
And then I laid my cheek close unto hers. 



47 



But, ah, that face ! how cold it seemed to me ! 
And when she put her arms around my neck, 
And pressed me to her bosom, I did feel 
A shuddering o'er me creep. My father took 
Me up all tenderly, but could not speak, 
And carried me away. And when in bed 
I lay a long time thinking, fearing much 
My mother dear would die, because her cheek 
Felt just as cold as little sister's did. 
Before, alas ! they laid her in the ground. 

When morning came, I hastened to her room. 
Her face was covered with a napkin white, 
Which I removed. But, oh ! it was, it was 
As I had feared : her loving eyes were closed ; 
Her cheeks were cold and hard ; but round the lips 
There was the self-same sweet expression 
I had loved. In an instant then did all 
The little faults rush o'er my mind for which 
She had reproved. And how, oh, how I longed 
To tell her I would be for ever good. 
If she'd remain with me ! 

I was a passionate and headstrong boy ; 
Yet, from that hour of grief, I ne'er did yield 
To feelings such as these, unless I saw, 



48 



In fancy, my dear mother's tearful eye 

Fixed on me as in life ; and, when I did 

Subdue these rash emotions, her sweet smile 

Beamed on me as of yore. My being, soul, 

Ay, character, did change e'e^ from her death. 

Her gentle spirit seemed for ever near, 

Strengthening my holy thoughts, and weakening all 

Propensity to evil. I felt assured 

'Twould grieve that blessed spirit if I erred, 

And I would not ; but firmly did resolve 

To be what she would have me be ; and oh, 

This resolution has been more to me 

Than words can tell ! It helped me to subdue 

The waywardness of childhood ; guided me 

Through the temptations that endanger youth ; 

And will support and comfort me till death. . 

Whatever, ay, whatever I possess 

Of worth in character, I owe, I owe 

To the impressions on my spirit made 

Of goodness and of virtue, by the life 

And teachings pure of her I loved, — my mother. 



49 



THE IMPRISONED EAGLE. 



Bird of the sky ! what dost thou there^ 
Confined within yon narrow cell 1 

Ah, brave one, gloomy was the horn- 
When such captivity befell ! 

Bird of the wild wood ! pining there 
While nature holds her jubilee : 

It fires my spirit, thrills my heart ^ 
I long, I long to set thee free ! 

Bird of the mountain ! still it soars. 
Thy native mount, to yonder sky : 

Break thy rude fetters, spurn thy bonds ; 
Stretch, stretch thine ample wings, and fiy! 

Bird of the wild and savage rock, 
Of dark and towering cliff* sublime ! 

Why, why art thou imprisoned here 1 
O noble flutterer ! what thy crime T 
4 



Bird of my country! emblem loved, 
O'er vale and hill, o'er land and sea ; 

No bondage for thy mighty wing ! 

Soar, soar to heaven ; — thou shalt he free! 



51 



THE MOTHER. 



" Poor thing! she couldn't bring her mind to part with her beautiful baby. It 
was enough for it to die ; but to commit it to the wide sea was too terrible : it was 
more than she could bear; so she wrapped it up, and dandled it in her arms, and 
then sang to it as though it was slumbering," &c. — Faul Preston's Voyages, &c. 



A FEVER raged on board the ship : 
A mother, young and fair, 

Pressed to her heart her only child. 
As if to shield it there. 



But ah ! she could not ward the blow 
Her darling and her pride, 

Her beautiful and cherished one, 
Sickened, alas ! and died. 

'Twas in the dark and stilly night 

Its gentle spirit fled, 
And no one but the mother knew 

The pretty one was dead. 



52 



And must she lay her baby dear 

Beneath the chilling wave ? 
The very thought was agony : 

Is there no other grave 1 

She wrapped it in its mantle warm, 

She danced it on her knee : 
" They will not take, they shall not take, 

My darling babe from me !" 

And then, to wear a smiling face, 

As if at peace, she'd strive ; 
She sang to it, and dandled it, 

As if it were alive. 



Heart-broken one ! this cannot last. 

" Can this," they said, " be sleep 1 
Ah, mother, no ! we must consign 

Thy treasure to the deep." 

*' Oh do not, do not take away 

My lovely one from me : 
'Twill sweetly rest beneath the sod ; 

But save it from the sea ! " 



53 



She clung to it in wild despair ; 

She pressed it to her heart ; 
" My dearest babe, my child, my own I . 

They cannot bid us part." 

Touched with her grief, they promised her 

To wait for two days more ; 
And then, should land appear in sight, 

To bury it on shore. 

All night she watched her treasure dear, 

And all the day her eye 
Would wander o'er the ocean wide, 

That she might land espy. 

I saw her on her bended knee, 

Imploring God above. 
That he would guide the ship to land, 

In mercy and in love. 

It was a blessed sight to her. 

That grieved, heart- stricken one. 

When, on the coming morn, burst forth 
The bright and glorious sun, — 



54 



Dispelling mist and fogs and clouds, 

As if with magic hand, 
And bringing to her longing eyes 

The much-desired land. 



They took the dear unconscious one, 
And rowed it o'er the wave ; 

And there, beneath the forest-tree, 
They dug its little grave. 

The mother, kneeling on the deck, 

Beheld the work of love ; 
She saw it laid beneath the turf, 

Then raised her eyes above — 

In thankfulness and holy joy. 

That, not in ocean wild, 
But on the beauteous, quiet earth, 

Reposed her darling child. 

O mother ! why forget the hand 
That stills the ocean-wave 1 

Why didst thou for the loved one fear 
A deep, untrodden grave 1 



55 

Consign, consign thy babe to Him 

Who visits every spot ; 
And, whether in the earth or sea, 

He will forget it not. 



56 



AN EPISTLE. 



"What say you, dear coz, to a letter from me ? 
'Tis a very long time since I wrote unto thee. 
Since then, we have met, as on earth we must do, 
But to part, but to part. The moments, they flew 
How swiftly, how rapidly by when with thee ! 
Ah ! had I the wings of a dove, you would see 
Me often alight at your window or door, 
Perchance with a branch from Connecticut's shore. 
If not of the olive, yet peace it should bring ; 
And then, had I power, so sweetly I'd sing 
A soft serenade to arouse you, dear E., 
That, if it was early, I know you'd wish me 
A thousand miles off, or at least ^elen would : 
Oh, how I would tease her, ifjf, if I could ! 

But a truce to this rambling. How are you, my friend. 
Now that summer's gay tints are beginning to blend 



57 



With the song of the wild-bird, the zephyr, the 

breeze, 
And ten thousand sweet things us poor mortals to 

please ? 
Ah ! should we be, can we be, sorrowful, dear. 
When such scenes, such delights, are around us to 

cheer ? 
'Tis a region most lovely, this world of our own ; 
'Tis man, sinful man, mars its beauty alone. 
Yet, oh ! Avhen his spirit is what it should be. 
Pure, noble, refined, from all base passions free, 
There's naught here the wants of that spirit can fill : 
'Tis the heir of a region far lovelier still. 

Once again I would ask how you've been, how you do ? 
It seems a long time since I heard aught from you. 
You have many, oh ! many advantages near ; 
You have friends, sweet and precious, around you to 

cheer ; 
You can chat with the learned, and roam out with the 

gay, 

And learn something to think about every day. 
I suppose you read much, even novels sometimes ; 
I seldom meet one that with my spirit chimes. 
Yet, a week or two since, I read what you have seen, 
Without any doubt — 'tis "The Neighbors," I mean. 



58 



Say, isn't it charming, delightful, dear coz 1 

'Tis the best I have read for two ages, "that's poz ; '* 

I like it, — and if I could meet with a Bear, i 

I know not but I would have him, I declare ; 

That is, you are aware, I do mean if I could : j 

That reserve is, of course, as you know, understood. 

Yet I know not if, even a Bear I should meet, 

I'd consent to give up my dear liberty sweet. 

I have an aversion to marriage, dear E., 

Because and because (now do not laugh at me) 

I have such a passion for scribbling, you know ; 

And if I was married, I couldn't do so. 

I should hardly begin ere my Bear would call out, 

" Pray, what are you doing ? what are you about 1 

Here's a stocking to mend, or a pudding to make ; 

You must give up this nonsense, my dear, for my 

sake." 
Oh, shocking ! I've duties e'en now, dearest E. ; 
But then they are nothing to what they would be 
Were I married, and had I the trouble and care 
Of a Tiger, a Lion, or even a Bear. 

Your letter, last winter, came safe and sound here ; 
'Tis always right pleasant to have one appear. 
Indeed, 'twas a time of commotion just then: 
Frail man will learn wisdom, Eliza, — oh when 1 



59 



Excitements I love not — they never did seem 
To me, though I may be mistaken, a gleam 
From that pure, holy fount, ever peaceful and mild,- 
That religion we love, taught by Jesus reviled, 
But yet ever passionless, gentle, and calm, 
Ever spreading around him the glory and charm 
Of a mind always tranquil, composed, and serene. 
But yet, my dear cousin, believe me, I mean 
Not, not to condemn, — some good may be done, — 
But of converts thus made, I should never be one. 



60 



ON THE DEATH OF W. J. 



The spirit has fled — why bend in despair 

O'er this perishing, tenantless temple of clay ? 

The spirit has fled — why weep o'er the dust 
It has left all unconscious, alone, to decay ? 

Ye may gaze, ye may gaze on that passionless eye ; 

On that pale, magisterial, beautiful brow ; 
On the lip that to yours sweet reply ever gave ; 

But that voice once so dear cannot answer you now. 

Ye may weep, ye may weep, as the clay to the grave 
In sorrow and silence ye mournfully bear ; 

Ye may weep, ye may weep, when the last look is o'er ; 
But your lost one ye leave not — your friend is not 
there. 

Ye may build, ye may build a memento most rare, 
A monument stately, to honor the dead ; 

With skill ye may carve it, with garlands may twine ; 
Yet the clay heeds it not, and the spirit — has fled. 



61 



Loved spirit, oh ! tell us where now is thy home, 
To what regions unknown thou hast taken thy flight ; 

What scenes are unfolded, what visions displayed, 
Of glory and beauty, of splendor and light. 

Loved spirit, we know not ; but this do we know, 
Though thou roam'st in thy freedom from star unto 
star, 

We may meet thee again, where the dear ones of earth, 
The loveliest, purest, and holiest, are. 



THE SCHOOLMASTER. 



"My schoolmaster, a down-bent, broken-hearted, under-foot martyr, as others 
of that guild are, did Uttle for me, except discover that he could do Uttle." 



What were the thoughts that through his spirit passed 

As, downward bent, with visage pale and sad. 

Through the oft-trodden path he took his way ? 

It was a morn of beauty : sweet and pure 

Came the rich fragrance from the orchard boughs, 

And blithe and gay the merry songsters poured 

Their soft, full notes upon the listening ear. 

The flowing rivulet that strayed away. 

The playful lamb that gambolled o'er the green. 

The fluttering, joyous bird that soared on high, — 

All, all seemed tasting liberty and bliss. 

Yet he, the weary martyr, he who oft, 

In warm imagination, far would stray 

'Mid nature's fascinations, climbing now. 

With keen delight, the lofty mountain's brow. 

Or wandering where the sparkling river glides, 



63 



And loitering hours beside its peaceful banks, — 
He to his task was bound ; to be confined, 
With dull stupidity, beneath the roof. 
Where he, doomed man, from weary year to year, 
Had striven, threatened, urged, and labored on. 
Alas ! the thoughts that through his spirit passed. 
As slow he traced his path, we need not tell : 
That spirit was not formed for contact rude ; 
It was aspiring, gentle, peaceful, pure. 

But, patient one, toil on : if not on earth. 
In some celestial world of purity. 
Yet far more beautiful, more glorious, bright, 
Than human thought hath ever yet conceived, 
Thy spirit will be filled, thy thirst allayed. 



64 



MELANCHOLY. 



Sweet Melanclioly ! softly pleasing power, 
That holds such gentle influence o'er the heart ! 
What art thou ? Say. Sorrow is not thy name, 
Nor joy, nor happiness : what art thou, then ? 
Mysterious visitant ! I love thee more, • 

Far more, than mirth or pleasure : thou to me 
Art dearer than the world's unstable joy. 
Thou comest not when loving friends are near. 
When eye meets eye with rapture, when the soul 
Reveals its deep, affectionate, and earnest love 
In every word, in every tone and look ; 
But when such friends depart, when all is still 
Where the dear voice resounded, when we gaze 
On what they looked on last, and wander lone 
'Mid scenes, apartments, where they late have been, 
Then, O thou soothing, strange, mysterious power, 
Pale Melancholy sweet ! we yield to thee. 
I would not, would not often thou shouldst reign 



65 



Within my breast ; for though thou gentle art 
As infancy's soft kiss or lover's tone, 
Yet, ah ! so deep, so wearing to the heart, 
Is touch of thine, I feel it soon would break, 
If thou within its confines long shouldst dwell. 

I've wandered, on a wild, autumnal day, 
When the sere, blighted foliage, strewed around, 
Spoke, to the heart, of hours that once had been, — 
When the low, moaning breeze amid the boughs, 
The stripped, forsaken branches, seemed to breathe 
A sad lament for glories passed away. 
Then have I listened for the wild-bird's note. 
Which but a few weeks past had charmed mine ear. 
I've listened : but alas ! no sound was heard ; 
The warbler sweet had sought a milder clime ; 
The nest, the ever-beautiful, the downy nest. 
Which the fond parent-bird with pride had formed, 
Now hung forsaken and neglected there. 
And where were all the bright and laughing flowers 1 
Ah ! where were they, those beauteous gems that spring 
O'er vale, o'er mountain, and o'er lone recess, 
That, 'mid the forest wild, do gladden man. 
And speak of heavenly care, of heavenly love ? 
Alas ! they were as if they ne'er had been. 
Then, as I roamed, I thought, I thought of one 
5 



66 



Who strayed with me when all was fresh and fair ; 

When the gay blossoms, bursting into life, 

And the melodious songsters, filled the air 

With harmony and fragrance. Short the time 

Since, happy by my side, that dear one walked ; 

And now, the ocean vast between us rolled, 

Long years might pass ere w^e should meet again, 

Perchance no more on earth : oh, how the scene, 

The forest drear and desolate, the plaintive 

Breeze, and the forsaken branches, chimed with all, 

With every gush of feeling in my soul ! 

Then, Melancholy sweet ! thy power I knew, 

Thy heavenly power ; for, ah ! so soft thy touch, 

I do believe thee sprung from seraph-worlds, 

From some celestial region far aAvay. 

'Tis said that every tone of nature bears 

Some impress of thy giving ; that the storm, 

The wailing storm, doth speak of thee ; and e'en 

The gentle shower brings thee near. The ocean, too, 

The ocean that on lonely sea-beach breaks, 

Breathes of thy spirit ; and the deafening roar 

Of the wild cataract is imbued with thee. 

Ah, yes ! thou'rt part of nature : 'tis a world 

Of change and of decay, and meet it is 

That thou shouldst mingle in its pleasant sounds. 

And sympathize with weary, suffering man. 



67 



Then, Melancholy ! we will spurn thee not, 
For thou art no intruder. Yet there may 
Be realms of beauty, far away in space, 
Where thou canst never come ; ay, gentle one ! 
Regions celestial thou hast never known. 
I do retract the rash, unthinking word ; 
Thy home is liere^ in this decaying world : 
Look not, look not beyond — we part in time. 



68 



AN ALLEGORY 



VERSIFIED. 



A HUMMING-BIRD once met a butterfly, 

And, being fascinated with its form. 

The dazzling radiance of its silken wings, 

And the ethereal beauty of its mien, 

Did make an offer warm of friendship pure, 

Perpetual. " I cannot think of it," 

Was the reply; " for once you spurned me, 

Called me drawling dolt, a creature mean. 

With whom to associate you would not deign.' 

*' Impossible !" exclaimed the humming-bird: 

" I always had, believe me, beauteous one ! 

The most profound respect for such as you." 

" For such as noiv I am, perhaps you have," 

The butterfly replied : "when you did taunt, 

Insult, despise me as I said, I was 

What men do call a caterpillar. 

And now we part, with this piece of advice : 

Never insult the humble, as they may 

In time become superior to you." 



69 



LINES 



ADDRESSED TO AN AGED RELATIVE. 



The day was o'er : tlie sober twilight hour, 
With still and solemn tread, as if it knew 
It would not, could not, pass unmarked away, 
Came on. All nature was at rest : no sound, 
Not e'en the carol of the singing bird. 
Was heard to break the quietness profound. 
Upon a couch, with gentle eye upraised 
In patient and confiding trust to Heaven, 
Reclined a wasted form of loveliness : 
Pale death was on that brow and in that eye ; 
But yet so clear, so radiantly bright. 
The spirit beamed from forth its prison-house. 
That it would seem there were already given 
Visions of beauty unrevealed to earth. 
That that rapt spirit had already caught 
The melodies of heaven. 

And bending o'er 
This holy bed of death, there might be seen 
The fair young sister of the dying saint. 



70 



She had grown up witli her, and their deep love 
Had never known a change. Their sorrows light, 
And their young joys, had ever been the same. 
And now, when death all unexpected came, 
The heart of her^so soon, alas ! to be 
Bereft and desolate, seemed crushed in grief. 

"And thou hast promised, dearest," she did say, 
" If God permits, that thou wilt come to me. 
Methinks I could not part without that word. 
Unless I knew thy spirit would be near, 
Supporting mine. Yes, dear one ! I entreat, 
Make visible thy form, that I may gaze 
With eyes of tender love upon that brow. 
That once again that smile may glad mine heart : 
Come thou again to me, thine own beloved!" 
"If it can be," the dying girl replied, 
" Thou shalt with mortal eye behold me near ; 
My disembodied spirit thou shalt see 
Approach thee with an angel's tenderness, 
Whispering sweet words of comfort to thine heart. 

And so she died : when that calm twilight hour 
Gave place to darker night, the breathings soft 
Of that fair, gentle girl no more were heard ; 
The "vital spark" had fled; and bitter grief 



71 



Was heavy at the lone one's tender heart. 
And when she strayed amid the cherished haunts 
Of her, the early loved, the early lost, 
Where'er she roamed, one wish was ever hers, 
One longing wish, that she might see again 
The sister of her love. And ever, when 
The quiet moonbeams shed a silver light, 
And the bright stars in solemn beauty smiled, 
She'd wander lone away with anxious heart. 
Trusting the promised vision would appear. 
To shed once more a halo o'er her soul. 

But years passed on, — ay, long and varying years; 
Scenes changed around ; new joys, new troubles, came ; 
Years passed on years, till feeble, tottering age 
Laid on this once fair brow his withering hand : 
Yet never, never did that form appear, 
That spirit, to this pilgrim of the earth. 
Ah, aged Christian ! thou hast looked in vain ; 
But when thy heavenly Father calls thee home, 
And jv^hen a brighter world unveils to thee 
Its treasures now unknown, its love divine, — 
Then, mingling with the holy seraph-band. 
That angel-form again may glad thine eyes ; 
There may ye meet, secure from every woe ; 
There meet in bliss, again to part no more. 



72 



TO A FRIEND. 



As I waked from a slumber the day you left, 

How deserted and drear to me 
Seemed my dear little room from whicli you had fled, 

And the places late filled by thee ! 
I gazed all around with a woful face ; 

For no one, alas ! was there. 
To reject the allurements of parlor below, 

And recline on my easy chair. 

Ah ! dull did it seem, with its broad, ample arms. 

And its ruffled old cushion so gay ; 
" And why thus deserted, neglected, am I ? " k 

The faithful old friend seemed to say. 
'Tis true there were dear ones would oftentimes come. 

Forgetting each labor and care ; 
Yet for hours and hours^^when gazing on it. 

Forlorn seemed my easy chair. 



73 



Kind friends would come in, and say, " How do you do ? 

I am sorry that you are so ill ; " 
But my chair was unsatisfied yet, as I thought, 

And looked very wofully still. 
For the kind friend was gone, was far roaming away 

O'er mountain and valley so fair, — 
The friend who came in when I felt sick and weak, 

To repose on my easy chair. 

Madam Luna, too, sweetly would smile on my couch. 

And the sunbeams around me play ; 
All nature, arrayed in a beautiful robe, 

Did seem most attractively gay : 
Yet I turned from the softness of moonbeam pale, 

From the splendor of noonday glare. 
To gaze with a pensive and sorrowful brow 

On my desolate easy chair. 



74 



A TRUE STORY 



" Alas ! it must, it must be so, my boy," 

The widow said, with, tears upon her cheek. 

" Ah, would that I could work ! I cannot now, — 

I'm sick, — we are lone and destitute. 

What can be done ? Go, then, my darling boy ; 

'Tis my request ; your mother doth entreat. 

Go, and may Heaven befriend you ; go, and beg. 

We cannot starve — your little brother there 

Sits moaning for some bread ; I've none to give ; 

And you are weak and pale for want of food. 

Weep not, my gentle child : come to my arms. 

Oh ! who would e'er have thought the son of one 

So loved and honored would have come to this 1 (| 

But yet take courage : 'tis His holy will 

Who orders all things right, who never errs. 

We must submit. And now go forth, my son ; 

Beg a few shillings ; and, perchance, my strength 

May come again, and you may go no more." 



75 



What were the thoughts, the unutterable thoughts, 
That swelled the bosom of this noble boy, 
As now, without a word, he started up, 
Left his fond mother's arms, and disappeared ? 
He did not hear the groan, the deep, low groan 
Of anguish, given when he closed the door. 
And well it was he did not ; for his heart 
Was full without it. 

Long this gentle boy 
Did watch, with tearful eye, the looks of all 
He thought might aid him ; but alas ! poor child. 
There seemed not one, amid this busy throng. 
He thought would care for him : no, none looked kind. 
He could not, would not, speak to such as these. 
He would not ask for what the cold eye told, 
And the repulsive brow, would be denied. 
Oh bitter task ! would the indifferent knew 
How much of sensibility there is. 
How much of purest delicacy lives, 
Within the heart of misery ; how oft 
They pass, with careless, haughty step. 
The form of poverty, connecting vice 
^nd idleness with humble garb ! 'Tis true — 
Oh sadly true — that much of guile there is, 
And much of sin ; yet oft is virtue doomed 



76 



To meet the scornful, the unfeeling glance ; 
Or, even worse, a fellow-creature's eye 
With care avoiding e'en the slightest look, 
As if — as if 'twould bring (poor mortal frail!) 
Contamination to thee ; and who — ay. 
Who — is this thou spurnest ? 'tis thy brother, 
The image of thy God, the loved of Heaven. 
Have we not this commandment from on high, 
That he who loveth God in heart must love 
His brother too ? 

Arthur — for so this boy, 
This weeping child of poverty, was called — 
Resolved, in silence and despair, no more 
His spirit to subject to grief like this, 
When, leisurely advancing, he did see 
A form and face that took his heart at once, 
So mild, benignant, was that gentle eye ; 
So free from pride, or cold suspicion's glance. 
When Arthur looked on him, his fears were gone 
With modest air, and slightly faltering voice. 
He did entreat of him a little charity. 
The stranger stopped ; and, as his eye did mark 
The countenance so fair, the timid blush. 
That overspread the cheek of this poor boy. 
And heard the mild, soft tone, the humble word, 



77 



His heart did melt with soft compassion's glow. 

" You do not look like one, my boy," he said, 

" Accustomed unto this ; " and then he laid, 

With gentle touch, his hand on Arthur's head, — 

" Say, what has driven you to this, my child ? " 

Tears coursed each other down the poor boy's cheek. 

" I was not born," he said, " in poverty, 

But the sad troubles of my father, sir, 

And my dear mother's illness, have obliged 

Me to this step." " Who is your father ? " asked 

The stranger then. " My father was," he said, 

" A merchant of this city, but became 

A bondsman for a friend, who failed ; and this 

Did cause his ruin. He did not, could not, 

Long survive the event, but died of grief; 

And this affliction was far worse to us 

Than any other trouble. My mother. 

Little brother, and myself were left alone, 

And soon became, dear sir, oh ! very poor. 

She did what work she could ; but few there are 

Who think or care for us ; and now she's sick, 

So very sick, that I do greatly fear — 

I fear that she may die. Have pity, sir ; 

Oh ! pity my poor mother ! I entreat." 

" Where does she live, my boy 1 " with trembling voice, 

The stranger said : " say, is it far from here ? " 



78 



*' Quite near ; it is the last house in the street ; 

There, you can see it there." " And have you sent 

For a physician for your mother yet 1 " 

" We have no money : sir, I could not send." 

" Then go, my child, be quick ; and you shall have 

All that you need." The stranger then, in haste, 

Proceeded to the house, and to a room 

Wherein was seen a miserable bed, 

On which a female lay, sad, pale, and sick ; 

And at her feet, upon the bed, there sat 

A little boy, crying, poor child, alas ! 

As if his heart would break. With gentle word, 

The stranger, deeply moved, drew near the bed. 

As if he were physician. When he heard 

The symptoms, and the cause of all, he said, 

With kind, consoling voice, "Do not despair ; 

Think only of preserving what is dear, 

Most precious to your children, — your own life.'* 

And then he wrote a few short lines, and said, 

" Here's a prescription for you : I will lay 

It by until your son returns. Farewell ! " 

Scarce had he left the house ere Arthur came. 
*' O mother ! my dear mother ! " he exclaimed, 
** I've met so kind a friend : be comforted. 
Oh ! I have much to tell : cheer up, cheer up. 



79 



A good physician now will soon be here. 

He bade me go for one." " He has been here," 

The mother did reply : " God bless you now ! 

For well have you fulfilled your task, my boy. 

Read the prescription there." The boy perused 

The paper, — started back ; and then a cry, 

A joyous cry of wonder, passed his lips. 

" My son ! what is it ? " the poor widow said. 

" Ah mother ! read, O read it. God has heard us. 

She took the paper, read it, found it was 

An order for a sum she little thought 

Would e'er be hers again ; but, when her eye 

Alighted on the signature, it glowed 

With such intense astonishment and joy. 

As one who might have gazed upon that face, 

A few hours only past, could not have deemed 

Would ever animate that brow again. 

The name was Washington. 



80 



ON THE DEATH OF F. T. G. 



Mysterious Death ! again, alas ! 

Thy mandate stern goes forth, 
And one of spirit radiant 

No more is seen on earth ; 
Another form has faded now, 

Another heart is still ; 
Why talk of death ? 'tis God's decree: 

We bow us to his will. 

Yet sad the doom — and never, while 
Our lamp of life doth burn, 

Will that all-glowing, ardent mind, 
That soul of fire, return 1 

For ever, ever must that shade 
From earth and kindred stray ? 

Has it left every human tie, 
. To wander far away ? 



81 



And is it thus ? will ne'er again 

That pleading tongue be heard, 
Moving the heart and soul at will, 

With deep and thrilling word ? 
Closed, and for ever, is that eye 

Of flashing, wondrous light, 
That seemed, for aught below the skies, 

Too radiantly bright ? 

Yes, other scenes, blest spirit ! now, 

And other hopes, are thine ; 
While still earth's sad, unheeded tears 

And withering griefs are mine. 
Thanks unto God there is a world 

Where comes not mortal care ! 
Methinks, with the beloved and lost, 

Thou'rt waiting for me there. 

Thy parting words, when last we met, 

Yet ring upon mine ear ; 
Still, still thy look and accent kind 

I seem to view and hear. 
" Where shall we meet again 1 " thou saidst, 

And little thought we then, 
But oft, perchance, in coming time. 

That we should meet again. 
6 



82 



Where shall we meet ? Oh ! never where 

We met in early day ; 
Not by the mountain or the vale, 

Or by the streamlet gay. 
Where shall we meet 1 Oh ! not around 

The hearth so cherished then ; 
Ah, no ! — we meet no more on earth; 

In heaven we meet again. 



83 



AN EPISTLE. 



Once more, my dear Elizabeth, with feelings warm and 
true, 

I've taken my accustomed seat to write a line to you ; 

And first I truly thank you much, dear early friend of 

mine, 
For all you kindly wrote about the pleasures of lang 

syne. 
Say why it is, Elizabeth, the heart so fondly clings 
To that which of our earliest days association brings ? 
Ah! o'er it then hath been no shade, no touch of 

earthly blight ; 
But all we gaze upon is fair and beautiful and bright. 
And this is why it is so sweet to bring to fancy's eye 
The visions of those darling days of rosy infancy. 

How changed the face of nature is since last I wrote 

to thee ! 
The deep, deep snow has vanished all from mountain, 

vale, and tree ; 



84 



And fields, where icy crystals took luxuriant repose, 
Are carpeted with velvet now, with violet and rose : 
How beautiful, how wonderful, is nature's mighty 

change ! 
How vast the field it doth unfold for contemplation's 

range ! 

'Tis twilight now, — that pensive hour so dear to spirit 

sad; 
And, if I would, Elizabeth, I cannot then be glad. 
I know not if you love, as I, this gentle hour of 

peace. 
When all the cares and all the sounds of busy day- 
light cease. 
To me its tranquillizing power ne'er makes a vain 

appeal ; 
Oh, then how softly o'er the soul do faded visions 

steal ! 
'Tis just the time to meditate, and muse on absent 

friend, 
And often do "I sit me down a .pensive hour to 

spend." 
Fears will arise my early friends I never more may 

see. 
And sometimes, in this sober mood, doth fancy roam 

to thee ; 



I seem to meet your cordial hand, dear Helen's laugh- 
ing eye, 
And wonder if these meetings glad have gone for ever 

by- 

But why, Eliza, do I write in strain to thee so sad, 

In season too so gay as this, when summer, blithe and 
glad, 

Is looking in upon us with her blossoms and her 
flowers, 

"With her breezes, and her music, and her smiling 
sunny hours ? 

Oh! pardon me, I do entreat; I'm foolish, dear, some- 
times ; 

There is no sad or joyous note but with my spirit 
chimes. 



Oh ! do not, do not think, my friend, I scorned the 

flower from thee : 
Thou little know'st this heart of mine, if so thou 

think' st of me. 
No, no, indeed; 'twas safely laid within my desk 

away : 
There's poetry in gifts like these, — no trifling things 

are they. 



And now I mean to send you down the prettiest one I 
know, 

Although around our mountain-home do many flower- 
ets grow: 

What though it blossoms everywhere, and grows on 
every spot, 

It ever will be dear to me; 'tis just — forget-me-not. 



87 



GREEN MOUNTAIN SONG, 

AS SUNG BY THE CHEENEY FAMILY. 



Ye may sing, ye may sing, of the mild southern 
breeze. 

The climate of gentle repose, 
Of the land where the vine and the olive unite, 

And the sweet-scented orange-bud blows : 
We will tell, we will tell, of the life-giving North, 

With its noble old forest-trees great, 
And where, never-waning, 'mid beauties sublime, 

Beams the star of the Green Mountain State. 

Ye may sing, ye may sing, of the charms of the West, 

With its wide-spreading prairies of green, 
Where the buffalo ranges in freedom along, 

And the Father of Waters is seen : 
We will tell, we will tell, of the region where Stark 

Taught of yore the invader his fate ; 
Where Allen found soldiers all made to his hand, 

In the wilds of the Green Mountain State. 



Yes, hurra for Vermont ! 'tis the land of the free. 

The land of the strong and the brave ; 
Hurra for Vermont, ever steady and true ! — 

What foeman can ever deprave ? 
Her fair are for worth and for beauty renowned ; 

Her " mountain-boys " ever are men ; 
Her soil is unrivalled, her breezes are pure : 

Hurra for Vermont once again ! 

Ah ! other bright scenes may entice us away ; 

In other lands oft we may roam ; 
Yet still will the heart ever beat with delight, 

At the name of its own mountain-home. 
Then hurra yet again for our dear native State, 

Though oft we may wander afar ; 
For Vermont, brave Vermont, with her evergreen 
hills. 

Hurra ! and Hurra ! and Hurra ! • 



89 



REFLECTIONS, 



WHEN CONTEMPLATING FOREST-TREES IN AUTUMN. 



Wave on, wave on, ye noble ones, wave on ! 
Wave, as the wild breeze rustles 'mid your boughs. 
Ay, strew around your faded, withering gems ; 
And bid them tell a tale of other days. 
When, radiantly fair, they clung to you. 
And feared nor northern blast nor wintry sky. 
^Bid them relate, how, nursed by gentle dews, 
They soft unfolded to the summer ray ; 
And, richly clustering your branches round. 
Waved proud and high in fearless majesty. 
Ay, let them breathe to man their tale of woe ; 
And, even as they've drooped and faded, tell. 
So must he fade, must wither, and must die. 
Then bid them point to your majestic boughs. 
On which nor time nor tempest yet hath wrought 
A change, and say, " Thou seest them firm remain, 
'Mid autumn's wildest gales or winter's blast ; 



90 



Nay, more, again thou'lt view them putting forth 

New buds of fragrance and of beauty, 

Again rejoicing in the summer ray. 

Inhaling heaven's own dews. 

And so thy soul, when it hath cast aside 

This frail and fading garb thou deem'st so fair, 

In one celestial shall array itself. 

And soar where change comes not, or blight or woe." 



9i 



THE ANGUISH OF BEREAVEMENT." 



"When little Jacob Walton was informed that he alone, of all his family, had 
escaped from the wreck of the ' Atlantic,' he exclaimed, ' Oh ! take me back, and throw 
me into the sea. Oh I let me drown with my parents, and my brothers and sisters.' " 



The fearful winds had ceased to rave, 
The storm had passed away, 

And hushed again in deep repose 
The mighty billows lay. 

But hearts of love were raging on 
With grief beyond control. 

Ah ! what are wildest gales to this, 
The tempest of the soul ? 

And one there was of tender years, 

Of every friend bereft ; 
Of parents, brothers, sisters dear : 

Alas ! he only left. 



92 

Oh ! who can tell the agony 

Of this young spirit brave, 
When he was told his all on earth 

Had found a watery grave 1 

" Oh ! take me, take me back," he said, 
" And throw me in the sea : 

Ah ! let me drown with those I loved ; 
Have pity upon me. 

" And are they then for ever lost. 
The friends that were so dear ? 

Oh ! throw me in the sea with them ; 
For I have no home here." 

Dear boy ! thy course is onward yet ; 

Strive on with noble heart ; 
Strive on, though doomed, in early life, 

With all thou lovedst to part. 

Thou hast a Father, fear it not. 

Who loveth such as thou ; 
And He who saved thee from the storm 

Will not forsake thee now. 



93 



Live on, live on, though clouds may frown, 
And tempests round thee lower : 

Ever, to heart of faith and trust, 
There comes a brighter hour. 



94 



ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG CLERGYMAN. 



" The deceased fell at the very threshold of his profession, the message on his lip 
undelivered, the errand untold, the great work to which from childhood he had de- 
voted his life scarcely begun." 



43u^ 



He died, in early life he died, 

While hope was buoyant, trustful, high ; 
While yet to bless, to lead, support, 

His spirit fondly did rely. 

He passed away, ere time was given 
For half his genius to nafold, 

E'en at the threshold of his hopes, 
The message on his lip untold. 

Ere the great work was well begun 
For which his ardent spirit sighed. 

While hearts with fond approval glowed, 
And renovated trust, he died. 



95 



Ay, unto changing earth he died : 

Think ye those powers all silent are ? 

Is there no other world than this ? 
No other kindred home afar, — 

Where the bright spirit may reveal 
Its holy trust, its love divine 1 

No other realm where naught may be 
Its aspirations to confine ? 

There is a home for glowing mind. 
There are delights for weary heart, 

For ever, and for ever more. 

New bliss, new rapture, to impart. 



96 



THE FATED. 



I SAW a picture once, or had a dream, — 

I know not which ; but oft there comes a gleam 

Across my mind of what it did portray. 

It was a stormy, wild, tempestuous day, 

And a poor sailor on a rock is cast, 

With naught to shield him from the angry blast. 

Alone he stands ; and, far as eye can reach. 

There is no sign of ship or isle or beach ; 

Naught seen but ocean, ocean all around, 

With its tumultuous heaves, no other sound ; 

No form but his, no human arm to save. 

As wave on wave came tumbling over wave. 

The ocean roared and beat and splashed and fumed, 

Still on his craggy rock stood firm the doomed ; 

I heard it rave — oh, terrible the sound ! 

Darker and darker grew the clouds around ; 

Not yet the fated from his rock is riven, 

Yet is he there, — there with his eye on heaven. 



97 



TO A PARENT 



You ask a verse, — and not on theme 

Heroic, grave, or gay; . 
No lofty flight, no fiction strange, 

You bid my muse essay. 

'Tis not a' song of native land, 
Of mountain or of stream ; 

No patriot chantings now for thee, 
Or wild, romantic dream. 

I may not soar to where the stars 

In radiant beauty glow. 
Shedding an ever-beaming hope 

On mortals here below. 

To distant classic lands afar, 
Inspired, I may not roam ; 

Not so : the chosen theme for me 
Comes nearer, nearer home. 

7 



98 

I said indeed it was not one 

Of gravity or mirth ; 
And yet it is of mighty grasp, — 

A spirit horn to earth. 

Ah, what of weal and what of woe 

May not in time appear ! 
What changes come of this event, 

This angel-presence here ! 

Yet Hope exultingly doth smile : 

We trust that it may be 
Of pure and deep parental bliss 

A truthful prophecy. 

And should this infant-hand reveal 

The poet's glowing lay, 
Or charm by music's thrilling power 

The enraptured heart away ; 

Should eloquence divine inspire 
That little fluttering heart. 

Or science, with her varying charms, 
Her wondrous truths impart ; 



99 

Whate'er of talent or of worth 

The future may reveal, 
Whate'er upon this infant brow 

May set the final seal, — 

Yet death will come ; and when that soul 

From earthly bliss is riven, 
May cherubim celestial hail 

A spirit horn to heathen! 



100 



THE SAILOR- BOY. 



Beneath an aged oak I knew 

A most inviting seat, 
With lattice-work adorned, hung o'er 

With honeysuckle sweet. 

One eve, — 'twas just at twilight hour, 
That quiet hour so dear, — 

A girl with flowing curl sat there, 
And on her cheek a tear. 



Beside her was a gentle boy. 
Of manly presence too, 
yiA,^A-<_l^*NA=- Who several summers more had seen, 
' V And yet his years were few. 



\/jU^i ^ 



But often had their loving eyes 
The tear of sorrow shed ; 

For, ah ! their father, mother too, 
Had been for long time dead. 



101 

A distant relative alone 

Their tender years watched o'er ; 
And they were gentle, kind, and good, 

Yes, very good — but poor. 

And Henry as a sailor-boy 

Had been advised to roam, 
To leave, perchance for future ease. 

His sister and his home. 

And now the sail is ready spread, 

The color streaming gay; 
"One kiss, — another, dearest Ann; 

And I must then away." 

" Oh ! leave me not, my brother dear, 

I cannot part with thee ; 
Oh ! leave me, leave me not, I pray, 

For the wild raging sea. 

*' I thought, I thought I should be firm, 
And meant it should be so ; 

But now, the bitter hour has come, 
I cannot let you go. 



102 

" Oh! think of all our pleasant sports, 
The tears we've shed together ; 

How we have deemed we should love on, 
And naught could part us ever ! " 

" We shall indeed love on, dear Ann, 
Far more than words can tell, 

And meet again, I trust, with joy : 
Sweet sister, fare thee \yell ! " 

And he has gone, her brother dear, 

Her only hope and joy, 
To wander o'er the lone deep sea, 

And be a sailor-boy. 

But Ann was good : though sad the task. 

To be resigned she tried ; 
But yet, in all her work or play, 

She missed him from her side. 

And now, whate'er would please him best. 

To do, was her delight ; 
Oh ! if but this he will approve, 

How sweet the task, how light ! 



103 

Yet more than all, to Him whose power 

Can bid the tempest cease, 
And whisper to the trusting heart 

Sweet confidence and peace, — 

To Him who for the orphan cares, 

Her heavenly Friend above, 
She prayed that he would guard and keep 

The brother of her love. 

Months passed away; and now the time, 
The wished-for time, was near 

When the lone sister might expect 
The wandering one so dear. 

The hour arrived ; and why, alas ! 

Came not the sailor-boy 1 
Ah ! why should faith and hope e'er rest 

On wayward earthly joy ? 

The hour arrived — a storm had been ; 

And, 'neath the ocean-wave, 
The gentle sailor-boy, 'twas said. 

Had found a watery grave. 



104 

Oh, tale of woe for the beloved ! 

Pale grew her cheek of rose ; 
And forth to roam, alone and wild. 

Despairingly she goes. j 

Again she wandered to the place. 
The seat where last they met ; 

His parting look, his parting Avords, 
She never can forget. 

She raised her eyes : what form appears ? 

One look, one scream of joy ; 
The vessel had been wrecked indeed. 

But safe the sailor -hoy. 



105 



UPON HEARING A BIRD SING FOR THE FIRST 
TIME IN SPRING. 



Ah ! whence that gentle note which breathes of bliss 1 
What soft, melodious thrill is floating now 
Upon the dewy air 1 A friend has come ; 
The lovely, fluttering tenant of the woods 
Is here again : oh ! welcome to thee now ! 
Welcome, thrice welcome, to my weary heart ! 
How pure, how seraph-like, thy gentle lay ! 
Almost to joy it animates my soul: 
I knew not that it could be so again. 

Sing on, dear bird ! thy music unto me 

Comes as a dream of days for ever fled. 

Sing on, sing on ! it calms my aching heart 

Thy melody to hear ; it bids me know, 

There is, there can be, purity on earth. 

Sweet warbler ! art thou come to soothe my woe 1 

Methinks thou'rt one of Heaven's messengers. 

Sent to remind us of a world of bliss. 



106 



Where the rude tempest never more can blow ; 
But all is soft and spirit-like and glad, 
As is thy heavenly strain. Then, lovely one ! 
Sing on : if bleak thy home, thou knowest well 
The summer-breeze will play, and beafuty burst 
In thousand forms to life. Thus, may we trust, 
Though cloud succeeding cloud may o'er us roll, 
Yet on the weary spirit there will rise 
A calmer dawn ; ah, yes ! the promise 
Has been said ; and Hope shall smile, and Faith 
Illume the way, the dark and wdntry way, 
That guides us home. 



107 



YES, WE MUST LEAVE THESE TRANSITORY 
SCENES. 



Yes, we must leave these transitory scenes, — 
Must soar to other worlds, away, away ; 

We are pilgrims here : whene'er the mandate comes, 
The solemn, final call we must obey. 

No ties of earth, no subterfuge, no spell, 

Can break or turn aside the dread command : 

Most true it is, — He who the spirit gave, 
Created, formed, that spirit will demand. 

Proud sinner, tremble ! soon thy day is o'er ; 

Soon is for ever o'er thy mortal race : 
Ay, tremble, till thy heart to God is given. 

Till faith and holy works thy sins efface. 

But, saint-like spirit ! contrite, humble soul ! 

Thou who hast borne the cross, endured the fight ! 
Fear not, rejoice ; thou knowest not the bliss 

Thine to possess in yonder worlds of light. 



108 



Yes, faithful spirit, trusting heart! rejoice; 

Mercy and peace from God to thee are given : 
Oh ! dear to thee will be that voice of love 

Which calls thee to thy Father's home, thy heaven. 



109 



TO BERTHA. 



I' YE been out strolling far away 
O'er velvet lawn and pasture gay, 
'Mid bramble, hill, and rock, to-day. 

I love afar to wander free 
'Mid wilderness and forest-tree : 
Is it not ever sweet to thee ? 

I know it is ; for late I strayed 
O'er hill and vale, in sun and shade, 
Through sombre woods and open glade, — 

With one who cheered me on the way, 
With one who patiently did stray, 
With spirit buoyant, bright, and gay. 

On, on, through pathway drear and lone. 

On, on, where never sunbeam shone. 

But wild winds make their wildest moan ; - 



no 

On, on, to see a streamlet glide, 

Not forcibly, with giant-stride. 

But soft, the verdant bank beside, — 

Just peeping here, just glancing there, 
With surface trembling to the air, 
Kevealing beauties everywhere. 

And such is life : on, on, we go, 

'Mid rose and thorn, 'mid weal and woe ; 

Such is our destiny below. 

Pilgrim ! what end dost thou pursue ? 
Earth's honors fade like morning dew : 
Keep thou a glorious one in view. 



Ill 



EPISTLE. 



Time ! Time ! thou covetous old tyrant, stay ! 

Why dost purloin so rapidly away 

Days, weeks, and months, with all that's fair and 

sweet ? 
A little longer leave them, I entreat. 
Stay now, suspend thy flight, I beg of thee ; 
And hear a lecture sage and good from me. 
How couldst thou steal so many joyous hours 
From summer's gay, enchanting, rosy bowers, 
And e'en from autumn's wreath of dazzling hue 
Select some gems of brightest lustre too, 
Ere I had written to one dear to me 
In days long past, when I thought not of thee ? 
Indeed, I meant, ere these thefts were, to write, 
As thou must know, thou old, bald-headed sprite ! 
Alas, alas ! how much thou steal' st away ! 
Roses from beauty, pleasures from the gay. 
Friends from the loving, buoyant hopes from youth ; 
All thou canst lay thy hands upon, forsooth ; 



112 



Dimples and smiles, and pretty ringlets bright, — 
All, all, thou bearest with thee in thy flight. 
But one thing we may learn, old Time, from thee : 
'Tis this, that precious must thy moments be ; 
That we must cherish thee, though short thy stay, 
Ay, though thou takest all that's dear away ; 
That we must love thee, court thee, use thee right, 
And then fear not, though hasty is thy flight. 

Well now, my friend, this prelude being o'er, 
I'll mention what I should have done before. 
Instead of prating so to good old Time ; 
But do not regard this vagary a crime. 
And now, dearest E., for " the fly-away measure," 
Which you are so fearful will never give pleasure : 
But your strains are varied, not always the same ; 
To condemn your epistles I think you to blame ; 
You handle them roughly, without glove or mitten ; 
Yet they surely please me, unto whom they are written ; 
And as to the measure, why, I like it much. 
Though it was chosen by B. Fudge, and such. 
'Tis lively and rapid and easy and flowing. 
Like a graceful young courser over plain going. 

You ask me for poetry : fain would I write. 

If my muse would but deign to call on me to-night. 



113 



'Tis calm twilight too, just the moment, mj'^ friend, 
Just the time for her ladyship fair to descend. 
And methinks, 'mid the soft shades of yon rosy sky, 
With its hue on her cheek, her bright form I espy. 
Come hither, come hither, enchantress, I pray ; 
Ah ! why on yon pearly cloud linger to play ? 
Alas ! she will come not ; then, false one, farewell ! 
Her caprices, so wayward, I surely will tell. 
She likes not my room, my sanctum, you know, 
Where my thoughts and notions and sentiments flow ; 
And told me, the last time she deigned it to grace, 
'Twas a comical, queer little, strange little place. 
But I care not for either her words or her looks ; 
I adorn it with flowers, shells, paintings, and books, 
And all sorts of things that will chase away gloom ; 
And to me 'tis a dear little, sweet little room. 

The books that you mention I have not yet read. 
Yet know of their merits there has been much said. 
I've been reading " Sartor Resartus," a book 
That much of my thoughts and attention took. 
It has much of sentiment, humor, and wit ; 
And, although it is odd, I must say I like it 
All the better for that ; I will own that I do. 
There's a chapter on dandies^ I know, would please 
you. 



114 



Our forests look gorgeously, splendidly, now, 
Ay, e'en from the valley to wild mountain-brow. 
No retreats of soft emerald hue can be found ; 
But rich crimson carpets are spread all around. 
Do come, dear Eliza, and wander with me 
O'er field and o'er meadow, 'mid valley and tree. 
'Tis a beautiful country around us, my dear, 
And often and often I wish you were here. 
Sometimes I wander through vale and through bower, 
And sometimes in fashion's gay hall pass an hour. 
Ah, dearest Eliza ! life's scenes, how they change. 
While thoughtless from folly to folly we range ! 
How the beautiful visions of youth fade away. 
As the sweet flower droops on the cold autumn-day ! 
How friend after friend from the fond heart is riven ! 
Ah ! life's ever changing ; " there's naught true hut 
Heaven.'" 



115 



MY SISTER 



My sister ! I remember thee, in days long, long gone 

by, 

When thou wast far too young, I thought, for me to 

see thee die. 
My sister ! I remember thee in happy days of yore, 
And thought not that the time would come to see thee 

here no more. 
My sister dear ! I've cherished thee with care upon 

my knee ; 
Though thou wast younger but a few, a few short 

years, than me. 
I loved thee fondly ; ay, thou wert my little joy and 

pride, 
My own, my only sister dear ; I had no one beside. 
Methinks I see thee now, sweet one ! thy pretty little 

feet 
In rapid motion o'er the floor, so eager me to meet. 



116 



When weary I returned from school, to claim the soft 

embrace, 
With thy dark hair clustering round thy little rosy 

face ; 
.Methinks I hear thy merry laugh, thy simple prattle 

gay, 

Thy talk of what had taken place since I had been 

away; 
All, all comes o'er me, and the time when thou wast 

older grown: 
Oh ! then it was a joy to me to think that not alone 
The cold world ever must I meet, — my sister would 

be near ; 
And, in the heartless throng, how sweet to know one 

friend sincere ! 

With scenes for ever fled, full well I recollect the 

day 
When first unto a festive hall I took thee, light and 

gay; 
With radiant hopes thy spirit was, thy young heart 

full of bliss. 
How oft, 'mid after scenes of mirth, how oft I thought 

of this ! 
We entered in, and soon I felt thy weight upon my 

arm, 



117 



As if that thou didst fear, sweet one ! the crowd 

might do thee harm. 
I felt thee tremble ; thou didst cling instinctively to me ; 
And yet I knew the brilliant scene gave happiness to 

thee. 
Ah ! why so sweet to cherish now the thoughts that 

time did bring, 
When, 'mid a heedless crowd, to me for succor thou 

didst cling ? 
Perchance it is that ne'er again can one so dear as 

thou 
Claim soft support from me, or gaze persuasive on my 

brow. 

Time glided by, my sister dear ! and thou wast here 

no more ; 
A few short summers, and, alas ! thy pilgrimage was 

o'er. 
Yes, thou didst die, beloved one ! all reconciled and 

meek, 
While yet the rose of life undimmed was glowing on 

thy cheek : 
I saw death's signet on thy brow ; I felt thy dying 

kiss ; 
O ne'er-forgotten day of woe ! and yet, to worlds of 

bliss 



118 



I knew, I knew, thy spirit passed; but thou from 

earth wast gone : 
And this, ah ! this my selfish heart can never cease to 

mourn. 
Yes, thou didst die : I felt alone, though other friends 

were near. 
They're tears of anguish that bedew an only sister's 

bier. 



Since that sad day, years, years have passed, and 

many more may glide ; 
Yet ever, my sweet sister ! shall I miss thee from my 

side. 
Ay, years have passed of joy and woe, yet oft I think 

of thee ; 
And oft I deem, my early-loved ! thy spirit near to 

me. 
In lonely grief, in sorrow's hour, I hear thy gentle 

tone : 
" My sister dear," it whispers soft, " why weep ? 

thou'rt not alone." 
Ah, blessed spirit ! when for aye I quit this world of 

woe. 
When from my dying eyes doth fade each object here 

below. 



119 



Wilt thou be near to welcome me with angel-smile 
and voice, 

To guide me where for evermore my spirit may re- 
joice? 



120 
THE WOODS. 

WRITTEN IN SICKNESS. 



And must I sad and pensive here remain, 
While smileth all around me nature gay ? 

Ah ! when again these confines shall I quit, 

And roam 'mid fields and woodlands far away ? 

How sweet, how sweet, o'er yonder gentle slope. 
And o'er the summit of yon mountain's brow. 

Those last, those fleeting rays of golden light 
With glowing touch divine are lingering now ! 

Mark how yon aged monarch of the woods. 

Yon rugged trunk, with branches rent and few. 

Smiles, as in prime of beauty, while those rays 
With soft embrace are biddina; it adieu. 



Oh ! how I long, I long to roam afar, 

With bounding step and heart, away, away ; 

Leave, for a time, the noisy haunts of men. 
Amid the forest's winding depths to stray ! 



121 



The woods ! the dear old woods ! I love them more 
Than richest hall with gold and silver drest : 

There do I lay aside each weary care, 
And there I feel each resident is blest. 

I love the quiet happiness they give ; 

I love the holy thoughts they bring to me ; 
I love the life, the joyous life, that bursts 

From every flower and stream and rock and tree. 

Ah ! there is much to learn in these dear haunts, 
E'en from the lowly shrub, the flowery sod : 

'Tis there I love to linger, there to muse. 

And there in silence commune with my God. 

Yes, there to meditate ; to note His power 
Who has created all things to rejoice ; 

To feel his presence, mark his tender care, 

And in the whispering breeze to hear his voice. 

And must I sad and pensive here remain, 
Weary and weak, from sober day to day. 

While yonder meadow seems to court my tread. 
And yonder lawn is decked with flowerets gay ? 



122 



Cease, cease, my soul ! some monitor is near, 

Some voice that bids my throbbing heart be still : 

The hand of God is on thee, it doth say ; 
Submit all unrepining to his will. 

His mercies have been great, — his love how vast ! 

Thy God hath raised thee from a bed of pain. 
Has calmed thy aching brow, thy feverish pulse, 

And soothed thine anxious spirit, — why complain? 

Be thankful that thine eye may gaze abroad 

On scenes of beauty : soon, too, may'st thou roam 

Where the wild, laughing streamlet glideth on : 
If otherwise may be, and if thy doom 

Is ne'er again to roam 'mid joys of earth. 

Be yet resigned, — thy God doth ever right ; 

And fairer visions, fairer forms, may rise 

In worlds more beautiful, to bless thy sight. 



123 



ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. 



And thou art dead, mild being ! thou art gone ! 

Fair, gentle sister ! death hath claimed thee then, — 

Claimed thee while precious were the charms of life, 

While hope was buoyant, future visions bright. 

Ay, beautiful ; revealing scenes of peace. 

Of sweet domestic peace, of love and joy. 

Yes, death hath claimed thee, while a mother's love, 

In its first purity, was gushing warm 

From thy young guileless heart ; while other ties, 

And one than all more sacred and more holy, 

Bound thee here. 

Fair, gentle one, mild being ! thou art gone, — 
Gone in thine early day, thy bloom of life ! 
Pale death hath put its impress on thy brow, 
While yet for thee a mother's love was warm ; 
While hearts, that beat responsive unto thine 
From earliest infancy, still cherished thee 
With an undying love. Ah, death relentless ! 



124 



Wherefore, oh ! tell us wherefore dost thou take 
The young and beautiful, the loved, away 1 
Why dost thou sever consecrated ties. 
And with thy cold and startling presence crush 
The brightest hopes of earth ? 

O death ! thou art a mystery ; yet we know 
There is a region, there are realms afar, 
Where never, never comes thy chilling power. 
Then weep not, ye bereaved ! a God is near : 
His hand it was that dealt the fatal blow ; 
His hand upholds you now ; his power will bless 
And comfort and sustain. Weep not, weep not : 
He will protect you through the storms of life ; 
And, when ye bid adieu to earthly scenes. 
Again the angelic spirit ye will meet, 
Again to part no more. 



125 



A RETROSPECTION. 



Alas, life's tablet ! there are pages sad, 
Most woful on it, often unrevealed, 
Ay, all unknown to sympathizing heart. 
E'en now a picture rises to my view 
Of solemn truth : yet wherefore it should come. 
Or who conveyed the tale, I cannot tell. 
'Twas told me years ago, long after she. 
The uncomplaining sufferer, slept in peace. 
She was a widow, — so the tale began, — 
Feeble and old and poor ; yet had she known 
Far better days, for she had ever been 
A willing worker in the path of life, — 
The humble path assigned her : now, alas ! 
Old age had come upon her, with its train. 
Its sad, sad train, of weaknesses and woes ; 
And she did live alone, with none to aid. 
Save with a scanty pittance seldom given. 
She struggled hard, this aged, widowed one, 
In meek and gentle patience to endure, 



126 



And pay, if possible, her little rent 

To a rough, cruel landlord. Oh, this world ! 

Though noble hearts are in it, full of worth, 

And charity abounds, yet, yet there are 

Cold, griping, stony bosoms, that seem formed 

Of other clay than human. 'Twas the fate 

Of this poor being, destitute and lone, 

This aged woman in her dotage now, 

To feel the oppressor's ruthless, iron hand. 

She could not help it, poor enduring one : 

She owed him much, and he would often come 

With threats of taking all her little store. 

Her homely, plain, and simple furniture. 

Even the little table that she loved ; 

Each, every thing must go, — and so they did. 

Or nearly all ; and, when he left her door, 

How would this creature tremble when she threw 

Her aching limbs once more in quiet down, 

With mind bewildered, hardly knowing why 

She late had been excited, feeling naught 

But one deep trouble that she knew was hers ; 

Yet what it was she scarcely was aware ! 

One day this heartless being came again — 

It was the truth they told me — yes, he came ; 

He came, ah me ! to take away her hed. 

And could such wretch exist 1 — God ! her hed^ 



127 



I see her now, with feeble hands upraised, 

Imploringly beseeching a reprieve ; 

I see her now resisting as she could, 

Striving with strength to clasp what seemed her all. 

Thus ended not the picture : there was light, 
Ay, there were light and beauty o'er it thrown. 
I recollect it well : some friend arrived, 
Some darling, long-lost son, or one as dear ; 
The fainting heart rejoiced, the gloom dispersed, 
Strength to the weak was given from above. 
Sweet peace with radiant joy clasped hand in hand; 
And so the tale was o'er. 



128 



LINES. 



There was a story told me of a boy, 
Of tender feelings and of gentle soul, 
An only child, who was the hope, 
The pride, the darling, of a mother's heart. 
To watch that mother's eye Avith earnest gaze, 
And read her every wish, to him was joy ; 
For, ah ! he felt there was a mutual cause 
Of grief to both of them ; a cause, alas ! 
Which nat the chilling hand of poverty. 
Or sighs or tears, had ever yet allayed : 
The father and the husband loved, far more 
Than aught beside, the baneful, deadly cup. 

This gentle child! — how often would he long 
To throw himself within a father's arms, 
And meet an eye of tenderness and love ; 
Receive the soft caress from loving hand. 
The sweet assurance, to a child so dear. 
Of fatherly support ! Neglected one ! 



129 



The stern rebuke was all that met thine ear, 

When thou with longing heart wouldst venture forth, 

Whene'er thy father's well-known step was heard. 

And often would the child, with pensive air 

And look 'tis sad in infancy to see, 

Be seated silent by his mother's side. 

And think, and think, and grieve his little heart, 

That his once tender father loved him not. 

Compared with a far greater love, — his rum. 

One day the mother heard (unusual sound) 

A scream of joy from her beloved boy ; 

And soon, all breathless and with beaming eye. 

He rushed into her presence, calling out, 

" O mother ! mother ! father's coming home,f 

And — and, dear mother, oh ! — he is not drunk ! " 



130 



MACKENZIE'S "MAN OF FEELING." 



" The Man of Feeling " — dearest book ! 

And can it truly be 
The soul exists that loves thee not, — 

Doth not thy beauties see 1 

I met thee in my infant day. 
And felt 'twas sad to part ; 
For in thy pages was a charm 
,That touched my inmost heart. 

Sweet, precious pages ! what the charm 

Around my soul ye bind ? 
On you, on you, that rarest gem, — 

A feeling heart's defined. 

The world, the lofty, stoical, 

The hero great may call : 
To me one man of feeling true, — 

One Harley's worth them all. 



131 

Ah ! little book of genius rare, 

Of delicacy great, 
No heart of worldly mould did e'er 

Thy gentle scenes create. 

And last thy love — this, this is love 

As angel might declare : 
How solemn is the dying word ! 

What tenderness is there ! 



Dear little book ! I cannot paint 
Thy worth as it should be : 

I only know, I only feel, 
Thou precious art to me. 



132 



VERMONT WINTER- SONG, 



AS SUNG BY THE CHEENEY FAMILY. 



Do ye know, do ye know, far away in the north 

Is a land full of beautiful things ; 
Where the snow-flakes are pure as the white summei 
rose. 

And the merry, merry sleigh-bell rings ? 

Oh, this land has a charm to all others unknown, 
When old winter comes scowling along ! 

Old winter ! the season for pleasure and mirth. 
For the dance and the blithe jolly song. 

When the daylight is o'er, and the stars in the sky. 
And the moonbeams are playing about, 

Is a right joyous time for the beaux and the girls. 
With their dear pretty smiles, to be out. 

Oh the blithe, merry ride over hill, over dale. 
Over ice, and o'er mountains of snow ! 

" With swift Morgan horses " as fleet as the deer. 
Full of fun, full of life, on they go ! 



133 



Oh the sleigh-rides they have in the Green Mountain 
State, — 

Do ye know, do ye know what they are, 
When the pure icy crystals are all lighted up 

By the moon and the glittering star 1 



Hark, hark to the bells, how they jingle along, 
'Mid the laugh and the wild note of glee ! 

While the hearts that are beating 'neath wrappers and 
furs, 
From all shackles but true love are free. 



And then when arrived, what a glorious sight 
Is the cheering, the bright rosy fire ! 

How it rises, and crackles, and blazes away, 
As they pile the wood higher and higher ! 



And now for the dance, and the frolic and game, 
While the nuts and the apples go round, 

What a time ! what a time ! while, with song and with 
shout. 
The gay, merry voices resound. 



134 



O Vermont, loved Vermont, with thy soft summer 
charms. 

With thy wild winds and deep winter snows ! 
Dear, dear are thy glad festive visions of joy, 

And dear are thy scenes of repose. 



How peaceful the hearth of thy laboring sons, 
When the cares of the daylight are o'er. 

With their warm, honest hearts, and their strong, 
hardy frames, 
By exercise formed to endure ! 



Then hail to Vermont, with her wool and her corn. 
With her cheese, " and all that sort of thing " ! 

Let her snows beat away, and her winter-gales blow. 
Yet, hail to Vermont, we will sing ! 



135 



EPISTLE. 



And now I take my pen in hand, 

My friend, to write to you. 
Although I've not a word to say 

That's pretty or that's new. 
I thank you much for all you wrote 

About the city fine ; 
And wish, as you, we had with us 

Those charming flowers of thine. 
The dust and mud you may keep there, 

And welcome, dear, for me ; 
But, oh ! how highly should I prize 

A sweet bouquet from thee ! 
How beautiful, how exquisite. 

These gentle flowerets are ! 
They are affection's sweetest gift, 

Her loveliest by far : 
There is some charm more powerful 

Than beauty o'er them thrown, 
"A something that will touch the heart," 

A language all their own : 



136 

They speak not to the heart of pride, 
Like gold or glittering gem ; 

But whisper of a purer clime, 
All beautiful, like them. 



We have delightful weather now : 

How I should love with you 
To roam, these soft, enchanting days. 

Our noble forests through ! 
The singing birds are carolling 

On every bush and tree : 
Do you not love their melody 1 

There's none so sweet to me. 
I'd rather roam in solitude, 

'Mid peaceful vale and bower. 
Than gaze on the proud city's charms 

In her most gorgeous hour. 
Our tranquil sabbaths, too, — how calm, 

How different from thine! 
They often bring unto my mind 

That fine poetic line, 
*^ Noontide is sleeping on yon hill;'^ 

Not e'en the sabbath-bell 
Is heard amid these solitudes 

Its sacred hour to tell. 



137 

Oh ! dear amid these vales and hills 

Its melody would be, 
And sweetly would its soft notes chime 

With nature's minstrelsy. 
Yet think not from the public eye 

The holy day we spend ; 
From smiling villages around 

The glittering spires ascend, 
And often do we there resort ; 

But yet, my friend, to me. 
There's something in the silence, peace, 

The sweet tranquillity 
Of nature, and her beauteous works, 

That, at this sacred time. 
Doth with the spirit's holiest thoughts 

Most sweetly, deeply chime. 



And do you not begin to think 

You long enough have stayed. 
And long enough a visit now 

From old New England made ? 
Indeed you know not what it is : 

New Orleans' autumn air. 
To it you ne'er have been exposed, 

But — God is everywhere. 



138 



MARY AND HAMPDEN. 



Bkight, beautiful beings of love and joy, 

Ah ! where have ye strayed away ? 
Where, where is the smile, and the bounding step, 

And the innocent voices gay 1 

I have looked for your fairy-like, gentle forms 

O'er each dear and familiar spot ; 
I have wandered where oft ye were wont to roam ; 

But, alas ! I have found you not. 

I deemed that, amid the fair flowers abroad, 

Like you in soft beauty arrayed, 
As oft I have seen you in past happy time. 

With hand clasped in hand you had strayed. 

Not there were ye seen. Ruddy morning appears, 
Shedding glory o'er woodland and cot ; 

And evening serene draws her curtain around ; 
But yet, gentle ones, ye are not. 



139 



Oh ! where have ye wandered, bright beings of love ? 

Can it be that your days are o'er ? 
And, 'mid the delights of your own infant-home, 

Shall we never again see you more 1 

No, never again we behold you here ; 

For the soft-beating heart is still ; 
And in death is the beautiful. eyelid closed : 

'Tis our heavenly Father's will. 

Not, not on the earth will you e'er be seen ; 

Earth's trials are not for ye : 
From her sorrows and cares, and desponding grief, 

For ever, sweet ones ! ye are free. 

Ye have wandered to regions more glorious far, 

'Mid flowers that never decay ; 
Unto Him who did bless and receive such as you, 

Bright spirits, ye've strayed away. 

Then mourn not, ye parents ! that short was the time 
These dearly loved treasures were given : 

Again shall ye meet in unspeakable bliss ; 
" For of such is the kingdom of heaven." 



140 



THE MEXICAN WOMAN. 



A TRUE STATEMENT, VERSIFIED. 



I STOOD upon the battle-field : the sound 

Of war had ceased awhile ; and all was still, — 

Still, save the feeble groans of dying men. 

I looked around, when, lo ! a female form 

With eager step came near, and raised the head 

Of one poor sufferer from the blackened turf, 

And gave him food and drink. Then did she tear 

Her kerchief from her head, to bind his wound. 

With gentle, tender care. To others, too. 

She gave a like supply, till all was gone. 

And then returned for more. I saw her come 

Yet once again, with mercy in her look 

I saw her come ; — and then I heard a gun. 

Great God ! she fell : I saw this creature die. 

I felt my heart turn sick. I looked above ; 

" O God in heaven ! " I said, " and is this war 7 " 



141 



SONG 



I KNEW a hearth where bright eyes met : 

Why is my spirit sad ? 
For round that hearth there only thronged 

The sweet, the pure, the glad. 

Alas ! how much is in the word, 

That simple word, I knew ! 
Yet can we ever cease to love 

The beautiful and true ? 



Ah ! 'mid the varied scenes of life. 

Its hour of woe or mirth, 
How oft my heart will wander back 

To that beloved hearth ; — 

And trust, though years may desolate 
That once so-cherished spot. 

There may remain one gentle heart 
That will forget me not ! 



142 

I knew a hearth where bright eyes met : 

Why is my spirit sad 1 
For round that hearth there only thronged 

The sweet, the pure, the glad. 



143 



ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND'S FAVORITE DOG. 



Rest thou in peace, lamented one ! 

Thy little day is o'er ; 
There's naught to trouble or alarm 

Or ever grieve thee more. 

To grieve thee ? and did ever care 
Thy faithful heart assail ? 

Was it thy fate, beloved one ! 
Life's troubles to bewail 1 



Did not affection bend o'er thee, 
And gentle tone address ? 

Were not kind feelings ever thine^ 
With loving, soft caress 1 

Ah ! yes, thy lot in life was peace : 
Love never-ceasing, true, 

Unwavering as thy constant heart, 
Dear Hunter ! cared for you. 



144 

And though to thee was all denied 

Thy gratitude to tell 
By language spoken, yet we knew, 

We ever knew it well. 

We saw it in the expressive eye, 

The tender, mute caress : 
Yes, all was ever told and done. 

All that thou couldst, to bless. 

Then rest in peace : thy day is o'er ; 

Yet dear will ever be 
Thy memory to the hearts that knew, 

The hearts that cherished thee. 



They scorn it not, such love ; for He 

Whose care is over all 
Hath naught created for his love. 

His kind regard, too small. 

Then shall frail man reject whate'er 
May soothe or cheer his lot ? 

Shall Heaven's minutest blessings be 
By erring man forgot ? 



145 

It cannot be ; and thus was given 

To one of lowly kind 
The love — but next to love divine — 

Of human heart and mind. 

But he, the faithful one, for aye 
Hath vanished from our sight : 

His loving glance, his mute appeal, 
Will ne'er again delight. 

Then rest in peace, dear Hunter ! rest ; 

Yet never wilt thou be 
Forgotten by the hearts that knew. 

The hearts that cherished thee. 



10 



146 



THE FIRST NAME. 



" The name Leonard was consecrated to him by all his dearest and fondest recol- 
lections. He had been known by it on his mother's knees, and in the humble cottage 
of that aunt who had been to him a second mother ; and by the wife of his bosom, his 
first, last, and only love. Margaret had never spoken to him, never thought of him, by 
any other name. From the hour of her death, no human voice ever addressed him 
by it agEun." 



No, no I there is no name, no other name, 
So dear, so tender, as the first we know. 
Ah ! when the ne'er-forgotten days of youth, 
With all their keen delights, have long gone by. 
And we have stood the world's indifferent glance 
Through many a weary year, and felt how few, 
How very few, there were, amid its din. 
Its hubbub and confusion, pride and strife, — 
Alas ! how few there were whose love was ours. 
Ah ! then should some once well-beloved voice 
Address us by the dear, familiar name 
That echoed round our cradle, from the lips 
Of her, our first, our fondest, truest friend, — 
The only name in early day we knew. 
Oft, oft repeated in affection's tone 



147 



By sister gentle and by brother dear, 
Perchance, with timid voice, by her we loved 
When time had added something to our brow 
Of manliness, — how will the bosom thrill ! 
How tender will the gush of feeling be 
That o'er the heart will come, calling again 
To life and freshness hours and days and scenes 
That long have slept within the spirit's depths, 
Smothered by contact with the chilling world ! 

And, when not one remains whose right it is 

To call us by this simple, tender name. 

It must be dead, for ever dead, to us. 

Years may pass on, and many friends surround ; 

Yet never, never, will that treasured sound 

Be spoke to us by human lips again. 

And what of this 1 the unrefined will say, — 

Pardon the word ; the thoughtless, it may be. 

What — didst thou say ? — of this ? Go, ask the pure, 

The simple beings, in that book unique. 

"The Doctor" called, and they will tell, — ay, they, 

And such as them, — will tell thee what of this. 



148 



VAIN WORLD, ADIEU. 



Vain world, adieu ! soon, soon, I must away : 
More sliglit eacti hour I feel my liold on life : 

Spirit confined ! thou hast not long to stay 
Amid these wearying scenes of care and strife. 

Yes, soul immortal ! thou must spread thy wing, 
Far, far away 'mid unknown worlds to soar : 

Death, mighty conqueror ! I fear not thy sting ; 
I go where earthly trials vex no more. 

Whisper, ye angels ! guardian seraphs, tell, 
What radiant scenes may burst upon its sight, 

When the glad spirit drops its mortal shell, 
And, free and unimpeded, wings its flight. 

Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard, the joy 
That may await it in the world of bliss : 

Then why, my soul ! oh ! why should e'er annoy 
The fleeting griefs, the transient woes, of this 1 



149 



Father of mercy ! hear my humble prayer : 

When earth's illusions vain no more are mine, 

When cold this brow, death's pallid signet there, 
Wilt thou receive my spirit ? — it is thine. 



150 



UPON VISITING THE CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY 
AT WASHINGTON. 



Solemn the thoughts that steal upon me now, 

As here I stray : these monuments do bring 

Sad musings to the soul ; they bid us feel — 

In no illusive sense, by whisper slight. 

But in reality, in very truth — 

HoAv frail, how perishing, is earthly fame. 

Yes, here they lie, — the honored and the loved ; 
The stranger from the strange, the far-off land ; 
The husband and the father and the friend ; 
The seeker of a happiness unfound ; 
The lover of that fame he ne'er might win ; 
The adventurer, who left with motive high, 
His home afar, to find, alas ! how false 
Are earth's alluring honors and her hopes, 
How vain Ms power to stir the heart of man, 
To sigh in secret for a home of peace. 
Alone to feel, then lay him down and die. 



151 



Ye myrtles that are twining o'er the graves, 
The home of death ; and all ye gentle plants, 
That breathe soft odor round, and charm the eye 
With beauty ever felt ! ye, too, do tell. 
Do whisper of the changes that await 
Each pilgrim of this sublunary life. 

Ay, solemn feelings steal upon my heart 
As here I stray : when will the sleepers wake 1 
God grant that now, in an enduring home, 
They may have found a bliss unknown to earth. 
Where no illusion cheats, but truth divine, 
Truth native, glorious, shall for ever reign. 



152 



MY OLD BOOKCASE. 

UPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY A FRIEXD. 



My old bookcase ! long time has passed 

Since first I knew thee, bright and gay ; 
Years of delight and years of woe 

Have flown for aye, since then, away. 
And now they tell me thou art worn, 

And destitute of modern grace : 
It may be so ; yet still I love, 

I dearly love, my old bookcase. 

Thou bringest to my memory now 

Sweet visions of my early days. 
When hope tinged every fleeting hour 

With her divinest, brightest rays. 
Ah ! scenes that worldly cares or grief, 

Or radiant joy, can ne'er efface, 
One glance at thee will oft recall, 

My own, my ever-loved bookcase ! 



153 

Yes, thou wast mine when she, the star 

Of my young days, first blessed mine eye ; 
And through her years of truth and love, 

And holy aims, hast thou been by. 
Oh ! dear to me thine ancient form, 

As I these years do oft retrace ; 
And ever will I guard thee well. 

My venerated, dear bookcase ! 

Thou keep'st in safety on thy shelf 

Pages that oft have cheered my heart : 
The talc of mirth, the classic line. 

The modern lay, thou canst impart. 
Though grave thy look, yet thou canst tell 

Strange stories of the human race, — 
It may be, not more strange than true. 

Though marvellous, my dear bookcase ! 

And precious moral truths from thee 

Do often elevate the mind : 
Dear words that point to brighter scenes. 

Adorning thee, we often find. 
When fears alarm and woes depress, 

Thou guidest to a resting-place : 
Thine is " the still, small voice " we love. 

My sacred, my revered bookcase ! 



154 

I glory that around my heart 

The ties of early life have power, 
That manhood's cares cannot dispel 

The pure delights of youthful hour. 
Ah ! then, let others boast of style. 

And talk of fashion and of grace : 
I ever shall be true to thee. 

My faithful, useful old bookcase ! 



155 



EPISTLE. 



Though not " where Alpine solitudes ascend " 

Do I sit down to write to thee, my friend, 

Yet amid charms that e'en with them may vie, . 

'Mid fascinations of the earth and sky, 

In a secluded, quiet, little vale. 

Where, murmuring soft, the gentle summer gale 

Just waves the heavy branches, bending low 

To kiss the violets beneath that grow, — 

In this retreat, from all intruders free, 

Sacred almost to forest-bird and me, 

It long has been my pleasure and delight 

To sit and meditate, — nay, read or write. 

Now, as I know you have, as well as I, 

This roaming, wandering, wild propensity, 

And love trees, bushes, grass, rock, vale, and hill, 

And all that sort of thing, I surely will 

Not hesitate to speak of my retreat ; 

It being, as some ladies say, so sweet. 



156 



Well then, this spot, this darling little place, 
Encircled is with trees, which interlace 
Their drooping, graceful branches all around ; 
"Within, the turf is soft, and clear the ground. 
One only spot admits the distant view. 
And, had I power, I'd sketch its charms for you 
You see far off arise, bold, free, and grand, 
The green-clad mountains of our forest land ; 
Nearer the peaceful river winds its way. 
Clear, soft, and sparkling in the sunny ray ; 
This lovely stream, the theme of many a song, 
Doth here 'mid richest verdure steal along ; 
While little modest rivulets do play, 
Scattered like silvery threads o'er meadows gay. 
And groves romantic beautify the scene. 
Combining every hue and shade of green ; 
The waving elm and sturdy oak unite 
With maple, ash, and fir, to charm the sight. 
Oft, too, is seen that favorite of mine, 
The monarch of the woods, the lofty pine ; 
Now here, now there, it rears its head on high, 
Undaunted, firm, aspiring to the sky. 

And now I fain would speak of one dear spot 
Where much I loved to wander, — 'tis the cot 



157 



Just seen by yonder elm ; ah, often there, 
From that lone, modest shed, the humble prayer 
Of fervent piety arose to Heaven ! 
The tenant there with grief had often striven : 
She was a lonely widow, and had known 
Full well the world's reverses. Years had flown, 
Ah ! many, many years had passed away, 
Since round that cottage echoed voices gay. 
The sportive shout had once resounded there ; 
Round that abode glanced faces bright and fair; 
The father from the field hath oft returned. 
When cheeringly the evening fire burned 
To welcome home the much-loved weary one, — 
There sweet to rest, his daily labor done. 
And oft the plenteous table hath been spread, 
And many a gay and pleasant joke been said 
By grateful beings round that blazing hearth. 
Alas ! why trust to happiness on earth ? 
The fell destroyer came ; the flowerets fair, 
That grew remote from worldly tempest there, 
He crushed ; and laid the manly brow 
Of him, the father and the husband, low. 

And she, bereft, the widow, lived alone ; 
And never for long years there came a tone 



158 



From kin of hers her stricken heart to cheer ; 

No fond, familiar voice was ever near. 

She lived, resigned and peaceful, all alone; 

And, when I knew her first, she then had grown 

Quite old and feeble. Often would I stray 

From business and from daily cares away, 

To sit with her ; and she would often tell 

Of days and beings loved, and what befell. 

I found her ever well employed and neat, 

And oft, in pleasant weather, on the seat 

She loved, close by the open door ; and there, 

In her old, upright, uninviting chair. 

She'd sit and spin or knit, with apron blue 

(Now rarely seen) and cap of whitest hue. 

I loved to hear her talk ; and never heard. 

In all our converse, one repining word. 

Her mind seemed ever peaceful, calm, serene, 

Grateful for many comforts, cheerful e'en. 

Ah, yes ! she was a Christian, truly so ! 

I felt it was a privilege to know 

One of such trustful, elevated mind ; 

And then to me she was so tender, kind, 

A mother's love seemed reigning in her heart ; 

And, after I was called from mine to part. 

She called me cMld. I many friends have known, 

Yet never shall forget the soothing tone 



159 



Of this poor widow in my hour of woe. 

When winter came, with chilling frost and snow, 

She often left her home, and went away 

With some kind neighboring friend awhile to stay ; 

And I have looked and longed for her return, 

And thought the dreary winter days too long. 

Last spring I watched again her humble shed. 

But she came not : they told me she was dead. 

None knew my feelings. Ah ! that spot to me, 

How desolate ! how sad ! How mournfully 

Yon aged tree responds to passing gale, 

With its low, plaintive, melancholy wail ! 

Yes, lowly cot, I've often found a balm 

To worldly cares, and felt a holy calm 

Come o'er my soul, when sheltered there by thee ; 

And, though those days can ne'er return to me, 

I love thee still : thou lookest meek as then. 

But think I ne'er can lift thy latch again. 



I feel as if apology were due 

Almost, dear Edith, even unto you. 

For dwelling on what interests me so long. 

Apology? No, Edith, I am wrong: 

Were we not friends in childhood, friends in youth 1 

And did we ever doubt each other's truth? 



160 



Oh ! dost thou recollect that happy day, 

When in the arbor, by the lilies gay, 

We promised we would love each other well. 

Through every change of life, whate'er befell 1 

And have we not, my friend, 'mid smiles and tears ? 

Ah ! how the memory of those golden years 

Comes o'er my spirit, bringing visions gay 

Of time for ever, ever past away ! 

Do you remember that sweet shady spot 

Down by the willows, where we often brought 

Fresh flowers to twine in wreaths ? How often there 

We've loitered hours away, devoid of care ; 

Free, joyous, happy, as the birds that sung 

The venerated willow-trees among ! 

Do you remember, too, the sparkling brook. 

With its round polished pebbles, where we took 

So oft our ever- cherished twilight stroll 1 

And then the quiet lane, so green and cool ; 

And, oh ! the swing suspended from the elm ; 

The roses, too, you must remember them, — 

The sweet-brier roses that we loved so well ? 

Surely, my friend, there must have been a spell 

Around those days, some halo o'er them cast. 

That made them all too fair, too bright, to last. 

Ah ! in some fairer, purer region, say. 

Will this bright halo ever fade away? 



161 

It cannot be : no earthly tears are there, 
No sorrow, grief, anxiety, or care, 
To dim its lustre : brighter will it glow, 
Yes, far, far brighter than we e'er can know, 
Can e'er imagine, while we linger here, — 
What joyous hopes the weary heart to cheer ! 



11 



162 



PLACE NOT YOUR HOPES ON THINGS OF EARTH. 



Place not your hopes on things of earth 

There is no bliss, no joy, 
No happiness, for mortal man, 

Without its sad alloy. 
Expect not much of bliss below ; 

Dream not, fond mortal ! here : 
Like fancy's airy castles bright, 

These visions disappear. 

No : trust thou not the joys of earth, 

Not for a day, an hour : 
Sharp thorns are lurking by the side 

Of her most precious flower. 
Trust not, trust not : the morn may ope 

Most gloriously clear ; 
But, ere an hour, dark clouds arise : 

Place no dependence here. 



163 

Not, not on glory, wealth, or fame ; 

They are of mortal birth : 
Love, yet remember thou how frail 

The fairest flowers of earth. 
Ah! trust not, then, these wayward joys; 

They fade, they droop, they die : 
Look thou above, beyond, for bliss ; 

There is a heaven on high. 



164 



THE BED OF DEATH. 



The bed of death, it is a solemn scene. 

There lieth one about to render up 

His last account to the great Judge of all ; 

To leave for ever, ever bid adieu 

To, earth's allm-ements, sublunary joys, — 

All, all forsake, to enter worlds unknown, 

Scenes never tried. Consideration vast ! 

The spirit is to leave its house of clay, 

And, ere another hour has passed, to stand 

Before its God. Oh solemn moment ! 

Tread with lighter step : perhaps, e'en now. 

Angels are near to waft it far away. 

Keep silence, then ; be still ; the room in which 

Ye are is holy. Watch the dying eye ; 

It seems to gleam with happiness not yours. 

One struggle more, — a spirit is released ; 

That temple is destroyed, destroyed for aye. 

See the lip quiver, mark the pallid brow : 

A sigh escapes, the spirit yet is there. 



165 



Heard ye not music 1 hark ! there surely was 

A soft, melodious strain. Some angel-band 

Is near ; while others throng, methinks, with looks 

Of joy and tenderness divine, around 

The dying couch ; and some there are who seem 

Like min' storing angels to the grieved in heart, 

Instilling comfort, whispering words of peace. 

Ay, 'tis a holy scene, this bed of death. 

Look ye again : there is a gentle smile, 

A mild, seraphic smile, upon that lip. 

The eye is on you turned ; it is the last, 

The last adieu : how beautiful it seems ! 

Such gushing tenderness, such strength of love, 

From yonder feeble frame ! 'Tis finished now ; 

The light has faded from that beaming eye. 

It has departed, gone to other worlds. 

The soul has left the body ; we are lone. 

Oh ! not alone the afflicted of the earth. 

Still angel-forms are near. A God of love 

Doth ne'er forsake his children : he will bind 

The wounds that he has made, will whisper peace, 

When all seems dark and desolate. Oh ! then, 

Ye grieved and stricken hearts ! be still, be still. 

And know the hand of God. 



166 



"HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY; BUT 
MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY." 



Oh world of beauty ! sky and mount 

And rivulet how fair ! 
Ah nature ! w^heresoe'er we roam, 

Thy gentle charms are there. 

Yet, when I gaze on hill and dale, 

On stream or sunny ray, 
There is one melancholy thought : 

Must all things pass away ? 

And when I leave this fair abode, 

And wander into space. 
Must I forget my earthly home. 

My soul's first resting-place ? 

Ay, all may vanish as a dream, 

For ever pass away ; 
All we have known may but have been 

Created for a day. 



167 

Yet wherefore mourn ? The sun may pale, 

The moon forget her light ; 
Earth with her glories disappear 

In gloomy, rayless night : 

Yet there is what will aye endure, 
Though heaven and earth decay ; 

The words, the precious words of Christ, 
Will never pass away. 



168 



LO ! I AM WITH YOU AL WAY, EVEN UNTO THE 
END OF THE WOULD." ' 



Lo ! I am with you, when tlic world 

Hath grieved thy trusting heart, 
And thy pure efforts arc contemned, 

And thou rejected art. 
When foes are near, and hope expires, 

And friends are cokl and few, 
Remember the despised of men : 

Lo, I am there with you. 

And in the hour of chastened mirth 

And innocent delight. 
When every care is lulled to rest 

'Mid cheering visions bright ; 
When ye exult with hearts of joy. 

In gentle friendship true. 
And loving smiles and words abound, 

Lo ! I am then with you. 



169 

And in the dreary hour of woe, ' 

When happiness has fled, 
When some beloved and gentle form 

Lies pale and cold and dead, 
When thy once glad and smiling home 

Resounds with grief and care. 
And every joy seems crushed in tears, 

Lo ! I am with you there. 

And in the sad and erring hour 

When passion wild may reign, 
And thou from some forbidden sin, 

Alas ! may not refrain, — 
Ah ! when 'mid dark, unhallowed paths. 

Thy Saviour is forgot. 
And thou griev'st him who died to save, 

E'en then I leave you not. 

And when the years, the sober years. 

Of feeble age draw nigh, 
And a faint mist is gathering fast 

O'er earth and sea and sky ; 
When soon the silver cord may loose, 

The golden bowl may break ; 
When fears arise and cares dismay, 

Lo ! I do not forsake. 



170 

And in that last and solemn hour 

AATien icy death is near, 
When the immortal soul must quit 

Its earthly temple here ; 
When darker, darker is the light, 

More faint the voice of friend, 
Lo ! I am there to soothe and bless, 

I'm with you to the end. 



171 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 



« Then Josepli could not refrain himself before all them tliat stood by him ; and 
he cried, ' Cause every man to go out from me ; ' and there stood no man with him 
while Joseph made himself known imto his brethren. And he wept aloud." 



They stood within the palace, awed, subdued, 
A few short hours ; and they had deemed that soon 
Before their aged father's longing eyes. 
With him, his best-beloved, they should appear. 
But now what doom awaits them, summoned back 
By Egypt's mighty lord ? They had not sinned ; 
Yet he, the purest, gentlest of the band, 
Seemed guilty now. "Alas! alas!" they cried, 
" Our father ! it will bring, oh ! sure 'twill bring 
His reverend hairs with sorrow to the grave, 
Should we alone return ; the promise made, 
The sacred, solemn promise unfulfilled." 

And now, in Egypt's snowy scarf arrayed. 
With golden chain encircled, rich and rare, 



172 



His aspect noble, beautiful, but yet 

With much unwonted sternness on his brow, 

Before them Joseph stood. " What deed is this 

That ye have done ? " he said : "do ye know not, 

That such a one as I can sure divine ? 

Now let the man who hath the cup remain, 

And all the rest return, — depart in peace." 

Oh ! sad the word to leave the youngest-born, 

Him Avhom their aged sire so oft with tears 

Entreated them to guard and bring again. 

Then unto Egypt's ruler Judah spoke : 

*' My lord ! my lord ! " he said, " oh ! hear me now 

Let thy unworthy servant speak, I pray. 

Our father now is old ; his silvery locks 

Are thin and spare ; he has in days gone by 

Known much of woe, and now his time is short. 

This boy he loves ; he is the pride, the joy, 

Delight of his old age : one more he had ; 

But he is gone 1 and shouldst thou take away 

This one, this cherished one, alas ! "twill bring 

His reverend head with sorrow to the grave. 

And now, oh, grant my wish ! let me remain 

A bondman to my lord ; but let the lad. 

Oh ! let the lad return to bless his sire." 

The brother heard ; and feelings long restrained, 

Deep-buried love, he could no more refrain. 



173 



" Cause every one to leave me," lie exclaimed ; 

Then, turning, saw his brethren alone. 

" Do you not know me then ? " he gently said ; 

" My brothers ! I am Joseph." It was all 

This noble-minded lost one then could say. 

He wept aloud. Amazed they heard the word, 

But could not speak. Oh ! what the feelings then 

That quelled their hearts, and awed their secret souls 7 

Again he spoke : " My brethren, fear me not. 

Come ye, oh ! come unto my longing heart : 

Come near, I pray." Then the beloved one," 

His mother's son, he fondly did embrace ; 

"With tears he pressed him to his beating heart ; 

And the young brother wept for joy of soul. 

And kindly, too, he spoke and wept with all. 

" Grieve not, grieve not," he said, " for what ye did : 

It was God's holy will to send me here. 

And oh ! our father, he is yet alive ? 

Go unto him, and say that Joseph lives ; 

Tell him he's lord of Egypt, Pharaoh's friend ; 

Entreat him come to bless his long-lost son. 

Here shall the eve of his devoted life 

Pass sweetly by ; here will I nourish all. 

Come with your children and your flocks and herds ; 

And in this favored country ye shall dwell, 

And God will bless and keep you." 



174 



And tliere was joy in Pharaoh's house that day, 
When all was known ; and peace, sweet peace, 
Such as dwells only with the pure and good, 
In Joseph's heart. 

I cannot paint the scene. 
The bliss of soul the aged sire expressed, 
When he was told that his beloved son, 
For whom he long had mourned, as of the dead, 
Was yet alive. " It is enough," he said. 
" I a§k no more. Joseph, my son, yet lives ; 
And I will go, and see him ere I die." 

And now, behold ! from Canaan, a band 

Of parents and of children, drawing near. 

In joy and pride of heart, to Egypt's land; 

WTien, lo ! a chariot of state, and he. 

The ruler there, the brother, son, advances. 

Joy lighted up the aged father's eye. 

" 'Tis he ; it is my son ! " he said ; and soon 

Within his arms, and on his neck he hung. 

And wept, and then embraced, and wept again. 

" Now let me die," said he ; " for I have seen 

Thy face yet once again, my son ! my son ! " 



175 



JEPHTHAH'S VOW. 



The battle's o'er : the hero comes 
Flushed with the pride of victory, 

With martial sound, and martial tread, 
With splendor, pomp, and revelry. 

But shadows flit around that brow, 
Some inward fear or grief revealing : 

Ah ! sure within that spirit brave 

There are some fearful visions stealing. 

*' Away," he said, *' dark thoughts, away ! 

God will prepare a victim meet ; 
Base fear I scorn, 'tis not for me ; 

Rest to the weary one is sweet." 

His home is near ; and now behold 
A soft and gentle band advance, 

The soldier brave to welcome there, 

With timbrel sweet, with song and dance. 



176 

Who can lead on this joyous throng ? 

He strained his eager eye to see ; 
Nearer and nearer came the sound ; 

" My God ! my God ! it cannot be." 

The blood forsook his manly brow ; 

" Alas ! alas ! my child," he cried, 
" My only joy, my only one. 

Would for my country I had died ! " 

With bounding heart and fairy step, 
Graceful and beautiful, she came, 

A daughter's welcome to bestow, 
A father's loving kiss to claim. 

'WTiat were earth's fleeting honors then ? 

He pressed her to his beating heart : 
" My child, my child, one last embrace, 

Ere we, O God ! for ever part." 

" Part, dearest father ! " low she said, 

" Oh wherefore ? why that troubled brow 1 " 

In broken words he told her then, 
Told of his rash, his fatal vow. 



177 

One start, and then her soul-lit eye 
Beamed with a majesty divine : 

" Father, if thou to God hast sworn, 
Retract it not, — the victim's thine. 

" But, O my father ! thou who art 
More dear to me than aught beside ; 

Thou Avho from infancy hast been 
All tenderness, my trust, my guide ; 

*' Thou who didst teach my infant- voice 
The holy, cherished song of praise, — 

One little boon thou'lt not refuse : 

Grant me but this, — a few short days, 

" To look on all the lovely things 
That have been dear, so dear to me ; 

To speak of all my infant bliss. 
And tell of all my love to thee ; 



" To gaze on earth and sea and sky. 
And take a last, a fond adieu 

Of gentle hearts that love me well, 
The kind, the tender, and the true. 
12 



178 

" Thou wilt forgive a woman's heart ; 

I own, I know her spirit mine : 
But yet, oh yet, when trial comes, 

That spirit shall be bold as thine." 

He bade her go ; and after, oft 

Would Israel's dark-eyed daughters meet. 
With pensive strains to pour lament 

For her, the beautiful and sweet. 



179 



SOLOMON'S PRAYER. 



1 Kings, Chap. viii. 



Lord God of Israel ! hear our prayer : 
There is no God in heaven above, 
Or earth, that can with thee compare, 
Thou God of mercy, God of love ! 
Our father's God ! oh, hear us now ; 
Look down from heaven, and bid us live ; 
Hear the petition, hear the vow ; 
And, when thou hearest, oh ! forgive. 

Our Father ! from thy throne on high 
Behold in love thy people here ; 
Regard the contrite, humble cry ; 
The joy, the gratitude, the tear. 
This temple, holy may it be ; 
Our offerings ever here receive ; 
And, when our prayers ascend to thee. 
Our sins, our sins, great God ! forgive. 



180 

Oh, keep us, Lord ! from every ill, 
From pestilence, and famine drear : 
Should aught appal, we would be still, 
And feel and know that thou art here. 
And when we sin, thou God of grace ! 
And pray, implore thee, mercy have ; 
Hear thou in heaven, thy dwelling-place 
And, when thou hearest, oh ! forgive. 

Have pity, Lord ! on all oppressed 
With pain, anxiety, or grief; 
Oh ! ever comfort the distressed. 
And to the captive grant relief. 
Beneath thy kind, protecting wing 
May we for ever, ever live ; 
Hear thou the offerings now we bring ; 
And, when thou hearest, Lord ! forgive. 

Jehovah ! may thy spirit fill 
This house we dedicate to thee ; 
Subdue us ever to thy will, 
And in thine holy temple be. 
Surely should we, thy chosen race. 
To thee our adoration give : 
Hear us in heaven, thy dwelling-place ; 
And, when thou hearest, oh ! forgive. 



181 



BLIND BARTIMEUS. 



" And as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples and a great number of people, 
blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging. And when he 
heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, ' Jesus, thou son of 
David I have mercy on me.' " 



Oh ! weary seemed the time, and long, to him. 
The poor old man, as he would sit alone. 
Unnoticed, unregarded, through the day. 
There meek he sat in solitude, though oft 
Did busy feet pass by, and merry sounds 
Ring on his listening ear. Yet not for him. 
The tone of friendship warm, — and not for him. 
The jocund speech was made. Oh ! could he join. 
One moment join, in social feeling with 
The beings of his kind, his fellow-men ! 
Could he but hear a voice addressed to him, 
One tone of sympathy, one gentle word. 
Implying he was not considered quite 
An outcast from his race ! But, weary one ! 
Poor, sightless, weary one ! alas, alas ! 
But seldom, seldom, did compassion's eye 



182 



Rest on thy shrunken form, thy pallid cheek. 
The tear might stray, and silently, unmarked, 
Be wiped away : the world thought not of thee. 

And now, what sounds approach ? what rush is this 

Unusual ? why this throng, this pressing throng. 

And eager whispers near 1 ah ! why was this ? 

Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 

The blind man heard the word : it was enough. 

With sudden resolution, he exclaimed, 

" Jesus, thou son of David ! look on me ; 

Have mercy, mercy, blessed one ! on me." 

" Silence ! " they said around ; " hold now thy peace ! 

For who art thou that calleth Christ ? Be still." 

But yet he cried again, and yet again, 

" Jesus, thou son of David ! mercy show 

E'en unto me, a blind, forsaken one." 

Our Saviour stopped : he heard the call, and looked. 

" Bring him to me," he said. And now they come 

To where the unfortunate, with eager ear, 

Was listening for each sound. " He calls : arise. 

Jesus is calling thee : be comforted." 

" Ah ! is it so 1 " he said, and raised his hands. 

His thin, his withered hands ; *' ah ! is it so ? 

Oh ! say the word again ; and shall I go ? " 

He lingered not, but tore, with eager haste. 



183 



His outer garment from his shrivelled form, 

And came, with throbbing heart, where Jesus was. 

" What wilt thou that I do to thee 1 " said one 

Whose voice for ever reached the inmost soul. 

" Lord ! Lord ! that I may see," the blind replied. 

" Go on thy way," said Jesus, " and fear not. 

Thy faith hath made thee whole." 



184 



THE RAISING OF LAZARUS. 



" Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.' 



A BKOTHEK dies ; and tears of grief are shed, 

Ay, bitter tears of agony and woe, 

By those who loved him well, by those who round 

The same domestic hearth with him were reared ; 

Who oft had breathed with him the fervent prayer, 

And raised the sacred song of holy praise. 

The sisters had bent o'er his dying bed. 

Had listened to his quick and fleeting breath. 

Had watched his every look with that intense. 

That deep, deep interest, which only those 

Who e'er have stood around the dying couch 

Of the beloved, the idolized, can know. 

And now, when the last gasp was o'er, when the 

Dear voice of him, the brother of their love. 

No more was heard, and death sat calm upon 

The marble brow, then did, alas ! their loss, 

In all its deep severity, come o'er 

Their troubled hearts. Oh ! where is He ? they cried, 



185 



Our comforter 1 where is the blessed one ; 

He who in gentle accents oft hath soothed 

Our griefs, and whispered peace ; Jesus, our friend. 

Our guide ; the friend of him whom now within 

The grave, the cold, dark grave, we laid ; oh ! where 

Is he ? — Days passed away ere they. 

The stricken ones, were told their Lord was nigh. 

Then gladly Martha went her friend to meet ; 

And when he turned on her his pitying eye. 

So full of tender sympathy, she wept. 

" Hadst thou been here, my brother had not died," 

She said ; *' but even now, I know, whate'er 

Thou'lt ask of God, thy God will give it thee." 

" Thy brother sure shall rise again," he said. 

'* Yes, in the resurrection he will rise, 

At the last day, — I know, I know it well." 

" I am the resurrection and the life : 

He that believes on me, though he were dead. 

Yet shall he live." 

More would our Lord have said 
To the bereaved and suffering ; words of peace 
He would have gladly spoke ; but, when he saw 
Their agony of soul, — beheld the tears 
Of loving ones around, who mourned with them 
A friend, a brother gone, his voice, that voice 



186 



Which never yet had failed, in accents mild, 

To warn, to teach, to comfort, to persuade, — 

That voice of tenderness refused the word ; 

" Where have ye laid our Mend 1 " was all he said, 

And wept, our Saviour wept, oh, precious tears ! 

He wept ; e'en he who at a word 

Could bid the dead awake again to life. 

Could calm the tempest, still the roaring waves, 

Could bid the blind one see, the lame one leap, — 

E'en he, the holy one, the Son of God, 

Weeps with afflicted man. 

" Behold," they said, " how much he loved our friend ! " 

And now beside the quiet grave they come. 

The stone was moved, and Jesus thanked his God 

That he had heard his prayer ; then, with a voice 

Of thrilling power, he bade the dead arise. 

The dead come forth ; and lo ! he comes. 

Oh ! who can paint the scene, the joy, the bliss, 

The amazement of that hour 1 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CLOCK. 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CLOCK. 



Tick, tick, tick ! I heard the sound 
With new-born sentiments profound ; 
It was the very first time e'er 
I had possessed the power to hear ; 
Tick, tick, tick ! and can it be 
This clatter is a part of me 1 
What am I ? why awakened now ? 
"Why am I called to life 1 and how ? 
It is a solemn sound I hear ; 
Tick, tick, tick ! I almost fear 
My destiny is not for good ; 
I wish this noise I understood. 
'Twas thus I reasoned when I drew 
My first breath in this region new, 
Or rather was first made aware 
Of vigorous life I had a share. 
" I've finished it," some one did say, 
As slowly he did walk away, 



190 

And turned to look, and bent his ear. 

As if well pleased the tick to hear ; 

" 'Tis all complete." I felt quite proud, 

But only answered tick aloud. 

And is it ever more to be, 

Vain man ! thought I, my destiny 

To have this sound so very near. 

For ever ringing on mine ear ? 

Must I no other note repeat ? 

Have I no other tone to greet 

A friend or foe 1 'Twas thus I thought ; 

My mind, by intuition taught, 

Reflected much upon my fate ; 

And soon I found, with joy elate. 

My face was charming, and my air 

What might give pleasure anywhere. 

I was quite large and tall and stout ; 

I'm made for use, thought I, no doubt. 

A golden eagle, large and bright, 

Just ready seemed to take his flight 

From ofi" my summit. O'er me, too. 

Were various devices new, 

All gilded o'er, — how bright they gleamed ! 

To me how beautiful they seemed ! 

Ah me ! I'm sadly altered now ; 

Time, time, has tarnished head and brow ; 



191 

Long years have passed since then away ; 
But yet, distinct as yesterday, 
I recollect my look and air, 
Ere changed, alas ! with age and care. 
My early home, too, I could tell, 
E'en now, its whole appearance well. 
My brethren graced it all about ; 
Some were in cases, and some out ; 
Some were so small I couldn't see 
Of what use they could ever be, 
Yet oft they were preferred to me. 
They were quite pretty, I will own ; 
And since, that I have older grown, 
I think them of more value far 
Than great clocks, such as I am, are. 
'Tis said by all that they can tell 
The passing moments just as well ; 
And then they take not half the room. 
So they are ne'er shut out in gloom 
In passage dark, on lonely stair. 
As we poor clumsy mortals are. 

Why I was made full soon I knew, 
And trusted, ever, ever true 
The fleeting hour I should convey, 
Nor during life a falsehood say. 



192 

My office seemed of import high, 

Ah ! almost sacred in mine eye. 

I must to reasoning man reveal 

How rapidly his hours do steal 

Away, away ; what time has past 

Since he my face consulted last ; 

How soon again another day 

Of his short life must pass away ; 

How time is ever rolling on, 

Just looks upon us, and is gone, — 

All this I felt 'twas mine to tell. 

And trust I've done my duty well. 

For many, many years I've told, 

Without reward of gems or gold. 

Proud man ! to thee this wholesome tale. 

Thy riches I do not bewail : 

The sweetest of rewards to me 

Will be mine own fidelity. 

My history I must renew : 
Whate'er I heard and saw was new. 
Of course, in those days unto me. 
I soon did find I was not free 
To tick whenever I might like. 
Or, when I chose, the hour to strike ; 
(The noise I made I'd ceased to fear, 



193 

Habit will render all things dear ; ) 
But ofttimes they would let me rest ; 
I scarcely knew which I liked best, 
To move or not ; I loved repose, 
But what's a clock unless it goes ? 
I was ambitious, as you see ; 
And yet my conscience whispered me 
'Twas partly to be doing good 
I wished to move. I understood 
That I was ready now for sale, 
And that, when purchased, without fail 
I must from my first home depart. 
This troubled me somewhat at heart : 
I loved my home, although 'tis true 
I had of comforts real but few ; 
There was too much of sJiow and noise^ 
And very few substantial jojs. 
Often would fancy roam away, 
And to my busy mind portray 
A quiet home, with hearts sincere, 
Whose friendship I could never fear ; 
A sweet, retired, pretty place. 
Adorned with modest, simple grace. 
Where glowing, happy smiles around. 
With sweet contentment, would abound. 
This was the home I thought for me ; 
13 



194 

But, all ! I knew not what might be 
My fate, my future destiny. 

When customers came in to buy. 
They often thought our prices high. 
Our master would extol us well : 
I cannot, 'tis so long since, tell 
All the fine, pretty things he said ; 
They've vanished from my aged head ; 
But I would blush sometimes to hear 
My praises sung so loud and clear. 
I thought I was a clever clock, 
Although not carved from marble block, 
Ay, quite genteel ; but not as fine, 
I did not think this face of mine. 
As he pretended ; yet I knew 
My qualities were good and true, 
And that, wherever I might wend, 
They'd find me aye a faithful friend. 

My brethren sometimes went away, 
Oft purchased by the rich and gay ; 
And I began to feel some pain 
That I must quite so long remain, 
Because my master seemed to be 
A little tired, I thought, of me : 



195 

At any rate, he praised me more 

Than he had ever done before. 

A gentleman came in one day, 

Who took of me a long survey : 

A lady came with him likewise. 

Who, very much to my surprise, — 

As compliments to me were rare 

From ladies, like her, young and fair, 

Took quite a fancy unto me. 

" I'll purchase this, I think, for thee. 

My daughter, if you like it, dear ; 

It is as good as any here ; " 

The father said. She did agree, 

And so he fairly purchased me. 

I know not how I came to know. 

But, ere they left, away to go, 

I found out, though she told me not. 

Indeed the way I have forgot, — 

Yet I found out she was to be 

United very speedily ; 

Or married, sure I ought to say : 

And so I found I must away 

To live with a young married pair. 

This change was truly an affair 

Of interest deep and great to me. 

An epoch in my history. 



196 

They gave directions for my fate : 
I cannot really now relate 
How I was packed with nicest care, 
And by some means was made aware 
I to a neighboring town must go. 
We did arrive by process slow, 
I thought, unto my new abode ; 
It seemed a long and tedious road ; 
I was quite happy to get there. 
They placed me up, with greatest care, 
In a new, pretty room, so neat 
And elegant, with flowerets sweet 
Arranged about, and books in case, 
I thought it a most charming place. 

I was alone almost, one day ; 
The next, the wedding-party gay 
With smiles and laughter did arrive. 
I do assure you I did strive 
To look my very best, and tell 
The time to all who asked me, well. 

Soon all the party went away. 

Except the bride and bridegroom : they 

Of course remained, quite pleased, I thought. 

Quite taken with themselves in short. 



197 

My master soon took pride in me, 

As very plainly I did see : 

He wound me np witli mnch delight, 

And kept me in good order quite. 

I liked him, and began to be 

Quite pleased with his society. 

His wife, too, seemed a lady kind, 

With truly a superior mind. 

Indeed my home became quite dear ; 

I was of some importance here ; 

They seemed to love me more and more ; 

I ne'er knew happiness before : 

Days, weeks, and months flew calmly by, 

It seemed to me delightfully. 

My master, and my mistress too. 

Would seem to say, " How do you do 1 " 

When first we met in early morn ; 

And when the day and eve had gone, 

Before they vanished from my sight, 

They ever seemed to say, " Good night." 

And through the day, too, they would look 

From work, from table, or from book. 

Ever with pleasant smile on me. 

I found out why they were so free 

From care and from anxiety, 



198 

When gazing on my face : it was, . 
As I am pleased to tell, because 
They ever were so well employed, 
They never, never felt annoyed 
To find it later than they deemed. 
They ne'er were indolent, but seemed 
To prize the moments as they flew. 
Not wasting them as many do ; 
And I have ever found it true 
That those who most industrious be 
Ever look pleasantly on me. 

As time passed onward, I did see 

Some things that did astonish me, 

Or rather hear them, I should say, — 

I mean the rumor of the day ; 

For friends would call to talk and laugh. 

I never could remember half 

The queer things they would say and do. 

Many were false, but some were true ; 

Ay, some were true, and dear to me 

Was rational society. 

But yet, when all is said and done, 

This world is truly a strange one. 

So I concluded ; and, you know, 

I could reflect as I did go. 



199 

Of all I knew, naught charmed my sight, 

Or ever gave so much delight 

As sweet domestic scenes of love. 

I ever prized them far above 

All noisy mirth, all heartless glee, 

All fashionable gayety. 

One little scene that pleased me well 
I must not sure neglect to tell : 
'Twas when my master, to my joy. 
First lifted up his little boy 
To hear me tick, and on me gaze ; 
I recollect the child's amaze, 
And pleasant smile, my face to see. 
Ever from that did he love me. 

In time, no longer could I call 
The happy circle round me small. 
Children there were, one, two, three, four ; 
As years rolled onward, there were more : 
I recollect them, oh, how well ! 
How full of glee no tongue can tell. 
All o'er the house I'd hear them run ; 
I knew the shout of every one. 
They'd climb on high my face to see 
To puzzle out the hour from me ; 



200 

But never one would ever dare 

To touch me but with greatest care : 

They did respect and love me well, — 

This to their honor will I tell. 

Ever, in blithest, gayest hour, 

A parent's word had instant power 

To check : if they commanded peace. 

That instant would the clamor cease. 

To all they were obliging too. 

Well, time passed onward, and they grew 

Quite large, — I think I see them now, 

Looking on me with eager brow 

When school-hour came, that they might know 

If /pronounced it time to go. 

What various glances I did meet ! 

Some seemed to say, " I do entreat, 

Old clock, you will not be so fast ; " 

While some would ever give a last 

Kind look, as if they loved to go, — 

Those were good scholars I did know. 

School-days, like other days, went o'er: 

In time we heard of them no more. 

Our children, as all others do. 

To womanhood and manhood grew ; 

But, ah ! there was a change so sad 

It made me any thing but glad : 



201 

My master and my mistress dear, 
What they once were did not appear. 
The footstep was not quite as light, 
The beaming eye was not as bright, 
The auburn hair was hid away. 
The raven locks were tinged with grey ; 
A wrinkle here, another there. 
Spoke of advancing age and care. 
I saw the change, I felt its power — 
Sure man's the creature of an hour! 

And now came many a smiling face. 
Adorned with fashionable grace, 
Our circle young and gay to see. 
A long, long time it would take me 
To tell of all I saAV and heard ; 
For rapidly would word on word 
Escape from lip of rosy hue 
When telling aught comique or new. 
Yes, much I heard, and much did see 
Of youth, and youthful gaiety. 
In my retreat, the wall beside, 
I've often, often thrilled with pride 
Remarks from youthful lip to hear 
As age itself might e'en revere ; 



202 

And I have blushed, in folly's hour, 
To see of vanity the poAver ; 
How oft a love of weak display 
Would lead the soundest mind away. 

Oh ! how do visions long gone by 
Return before my mental eye ! 
The sweetest time that ever came. 
The hour which I most loved to name, 
Was when the cares of day were o'er, 
And busy, active feet no more 
Were going forth abroad to roam, 
All thoughts concentrated on home. 
Then ever would the needle play. 
And pleasant talk, or story gay. 
Combine to charm the hours away ; 
While brightly would the cheerful blaze 
Diffuse around its welcome rays. 
And e'en remote, o'er me, would throw 
A soft and vivifying glow ; 
While I exultingly did view 
Domestic happiness so true. 
This was the scene most dear to me ; 
And little did I then foresee 
How soon these joys would pass away. 
And they, the loving and the gay. 



203 

Be severed, ne'er to meet, as then, 
In freedom and in youth again. 

This happy home, — how various were 
The fleeting scenes I witnessed there ! 
It soothes me often to retrace, 
To recollect, each form and face 
So dear, so loved, in early day. 
When heart was firm, and spirits gay. 
How short the time doth seem to me. 
Since I my mistress young did see 
Stepping about with look so bright. 
With flowing curl and footstep light, 
Intent her duties to fulfil ! 
In fancy do I see her still ; 
But, ah ! what time has passed away 
Since that beloved, that happy day ! 
What various changes have come o'er 
This peaceful home since days of yore ! 
And thus it ever is in life ! 
Where now has gone the mother, wife, 
The friend, companion of the gay. 
The soother of the tearful 7 — say. 
For fifty years I knew her well : 
All of that period did she dwell 



204 

In that abode, that mansion, where 

She came a bride so young and fair. 

Ay, almost daily did I see, 

In youth and age, in woe and glee. 

Her gentle figure pass me by. 

Ah, Memory ! cease : 'tis vain to sigh 

O'er vanished days, or to deplore 

The hours that can return no more, 

I heard, when all was still one day, 
My mistress and her daughters say 
Much 3hout fashion and the style. 
At first I felt inclined to smile. 
Until the eldest daughter said. 
While rapidly her needle sped. 
She thought that I was getting old ; 
And though she wouldn't have me sold, 
No, not for all my weight in gold, 
Yet, yet would not it better be. 
She thought it would, to carry me 
Up stairs, or anywhere away ? 
I was not just the thing to stay 
In modern room ; and they could tell 
The minutes by me just as well 
If placed upon the great staircase : 
That sure would be a charming place ! 



205 

Her mother answered, " Don't say so ; 

I cannot let the old clock go. 

I love it — 'tis a faithful friend 

I ought for ever to defend, 

And never banish it in gloom. 

'Tis true we've modernized our room ; 

Yet nothing seems to me so dear 

As the old faithful timepiece here." 

I listened long, but heard no more : 
The conversation soon was o'er. 
But ah ! not over was my fear 
That I must leave my home so dear, 
The room so long adored by me, 
"With all its loved society, 
Ere very long. I felt it so, 
That I was doomed in time to go. 
And tried my mind to reconcile. 
Ay, even, stoic-like, to smile 
At the world's changes, — all in vain ; 
For though I did not e'er complain. 
As I remember, e'en in heart, 
I felt it would be sad to part 
With sunny smile and sunny ray. 
With beaming eye and frolic gay, 
And desolate to go away 



206 

In gloom and solitude to dwell. 
Yet time, the soother, did dispel 
My fears, and much I did rely 
On my dear mistress's reply : 
I knew she loved me from her heart, 
And would be grieved to have me part 
From where so many years I'd stood, 
And banished into solitude. 

A few more years did pass away, 
Yet unmolested did I stay ; 
I witnessed many a pleasant scene. 
Passed many a happy day serene, 
Saw much of trouble, much of care, 
Such, such as cometh everywhere ; 
And still 'mid gloom, or vision gay, 
I ticked, and ticked, and ticked away. 

One day 'twas said there soon would be 

A wedding in the family : 

'Twas whispered here and whispered there, 

Till all had heard of the aifair ; 

While I regarded not a word. 

For many a secret I had heard. 

I'd heard the day, the hour revealed ; 

Nothing from 7ne had been concealed : 



207 

The real truth is, I often knew 
More than they all, and mother too ! 

Full soon arrived the wedding hour ; 
The bride, adorned with gem and flower, 
And blessed with loving heart and true, 
To father, mother, bids adieu. 
If I had not, quite long before, 
Resolved again to think no more 
Of her desire to banish me, 
I must have given pardon free. 
When, ere she left the room, she threw 
On me her gentle eyes of blue. 
With a sweet look that seemed to say, 
" Forget bygones, dear clock, I j)ray." 

In time another daughter fair 
For her departure did prepare : 
Another wedding I saw there. 
And now but one was left to cheer 
The fond heart of her mother dear ; 
And she, oh ! very much, I fear. 
Did grieve her by expelling me. 
Yes, very plainly did I see 
That I must now the parlor leave. 
That 'twas in vain to hope reprieve. 



208 

I knew too well I was not then 

What I in former day had been : 

Old Time had altered me, I knew ; 

But had he not all others too ? 

My master and my mistress dear, 

Did they look as in bygone year 1 

I felt it would be sweet to stay, 

To soothe and cheer their latest day ; 

A solace to them, sure, at heart. 

To gaze on me till death did part, 

Still occupying the old spot : 

But, ah ! it was my heavy lot 

To leave the old familiar place 

For one obscure on great staircase. 

They took me down, — sad, woful day ! 

How painful was that last survey 

Of room, and each beloved thing 

I felt I ne'er should see again ! 

As I did turn, when moving slow. 

One last forgiving look to throw 

On my dear mistress, who, apart, 

Stood silent with a heavy heart, 

I saw a tear within her eye. 

And heard my worthy master sigh. — 

O fashion ! fashion ! tyrant stern ! 

Oft doth it seem man's chief concern 



209 

To pleasure thee. What joys are thine ! 
What comforts offered at thy shrine ! 
What wealth, like holy incense, poured 
O'er thee, thou chosen and adored ! 
Ah ! there is naught in earth or sea 
Too precious or too fair for thee ! 
E'en ti7ne, whose worth all do admit, 
Is nothing if tliou claimest it ! — 
These thoughts on fashion's mighty power 
Employed my mind the first sad hour 
I occupied my station new ; 
And now I still do think them true. 
Too much, too much, is sacrificed 
On fashion's altar, too much prized 
Her smile capricious. Can it be, 
Man, born for immortality. 
Should so delight in, so adore, 
What, when a few short days are o'er. 
Will seem as naught to the sublime, 
The vast concerns of future time ? 

And now, my solitude to cheer, 
But seldom did my friends appear ; 
And though I heard their voices gay, 
Yet oft in gloom would pass away. 
As I had feared, the livelong day. 
14 



210 

Sometimes a face would just peep out 
To know wliat I could be about : 
It seemed, — of course it was not so ; 
They only looked the hour to know. 

Yet there were pleasures even here, 
My desolate, grieved heart to cheer : 
Ah ! is there any place so lone, 
Some joys, some comforts, are not known? 
What happiness it gave to me, 
When I my mistress dear did see 
Ascending slow to where I stood ! 
Ever, when passing by, she would 
Give me a gentle glance of love. 
Which I did prize all looks above. 

Ere long, new forms began to play 

O'er hall and stairs and passage-way ; 

Young beings bright and fresh and fair. 

The happy grandchildren they were. 

How they would run and glance at me. 

And scream out, " Come, oh ! come and see 

The old clock up in corner there ! 

We mustn't hurt it ; so, take care : 

It is as old as it can be." 

Bright, pretty ones ! how full of glee ! 



211 

How gratified and pleased were they 
At grandmother's to pass the day ! 

I loved the pleasant summer-hours, 

The season gay of buds and flowers, 

When windows wide were open thrown : 

Ah ! then I never felt alone. 

Soft breezes would around me play. 

And oftentimes sweet melody 

From neighboring tree and garden near, 

Ever delighted I could hear ; 

And then, to make my joy complete, 

Oft would my mistress take a seat 

With other friends, quite near to me, 

That they might feel the breezes free, 

And talk and laugh right socially. 

And thus, 'mid pleasure and 'mid gloom. 
As seems of mortal things the doom. 
Years passed away, until I knew 
The days of my dear friends were few. 
I saw my mistress failing fast. 
And feared each day might be her last; 
With feeble step she'd pass me by ; 
I felt, I knew, that she must die ; 



212 

Soon should I see that form no more ; 
That spirit pure must soon explore, 
Methought, new scenes, new worlds sublime, 
Must seek a more congenial clime. 
Why should I mourn 1 ah ! ever dear, 
Through many a long and bygone year, 
Had been this early friend so true. 
To me 'twould be a last adieu ! 

I will not now, I cannot, dwell 

On scenes 'twould grieve me much to tell. 

I learnt ere long that all was o'er : 

My gentle mistress was no more. 

She died ; and grieved was many a heart 

With one so long beloved to part. 

My master, — sure I see him now. 

With ashy cheek and furrowed brow. 

Gazing as if he would descry 

What ne'er on earth could glad his eye : 

I felt he too must pass away. 

Well do I recollect the day. 

The very, very last time e'er 

He wound me up, I saw a tear 

Roll slowly down his aged cheek. 

And thought, Oh ! could I, could I, speak 



213 

One word of comfort to that heart, 
Ere we for ever, ever part ! 
It could not be ; and, when he died, 
I felt there was not one beside 
To love me as in days of yore : 
My happiness I thought was o'er. 

Soon o'er the house I saw a change. 
Perceived where'er mine eye did range 
People were going to and fro 
In room, in hall, above, below ; 
The furniture was moveds^about. 
Some in the house, and some without ; 
And, what annoyed me more than all. 
Just out the door, I saw a tall. 
Red, showy flag was streaming gay : 
How much I wished it far away ! 
Alas ! I learnt the cause full soon : 
All the old precious things, ere noon. 
Were sold away. My time, I thought. 
Has come now to be sold and bought 
Yet once again. It was not so : 
My young friends did not let me go ; 
I call them as they seemed to 7ne 
(The children of the family) ; 



214 

But young they were not. Soon I knew 

What they intended now to do 

With poor, old, grieved, old-fashioned me : 

I was declared the property 

Of the first son, the eldest born. 

He thought, as I was somewhat worn, 

His country-seat would suit me well; 

That I should do, he thought, to tell 

The time to all his tenants there ; 

And when he rode to take the air. 

And overlook his farm, and so, 

As he should very^Dften do, 

'Twould please him much to look at me. 

The old clock of the family. 

And so they took me down again. 

I thought of that bright period when 

I came in gay and joyous youth 

To seek a home beneath that roof. 

I thought of her, the joy, the pride. 

Of many hearts, the happy bride : 

Where had she fled, oh! whither gone ? — 

Yes, truly, deeply did I mourn 

To leave that mansion once so dear : 

Never, oh ! never could it cheer 



215 

My heart again ; and, as we rode 

In silence to my new abode, 

A gloom seemed gathering o'er my mind. 

But is it not that oft we find, 

When darkest, gloomiest, seems the day, 

Some bright, some unexpected ray 

Of beauty and of light will glow 1 

Like to the vision of that bow 

We see on high, when, fearful, wild. 

Cloud over sombre cloud is piled. 

And thus it was when first I gazed 
Delighted, charmed, almost amazed 
At the rich beauty of the scene 
Around my peaceful home serene. 
They placed me in an airy room. 
Filled with the balmy, sweet perfume 
Of blossoms and of roses fair, 
That, mingling with the soft, spring air. 
Cheered and revived my drooping heart. 
I cannot, as I would, impart 
My feelings as I gazed around. 
The windows, opening to the ground. 
Displayed a most enchanting scene : 
Here there were waving fields of green ; 



216 

There, cultured walks 'mid shrub and tree, 

And arbor sweet, the eye could see ; 

Beyond were varied glimpses rare 

Of hill and dale, and streamlet fair, 

With now and then a cottage neat, — 

I thought, perchance the dear retreat 

Of many a noble, honest heart. 

Nature divine combined with art 

To render all surpassing fair. 

Most lovely to the vision there. 

Ah ! what can calm amid distress ? 

What is there with such gentleness 

Can soothe an aching, weary heart, 

And sweet serenity impart. 

As nature's charms, dear nature's face. 

With her benign, her varying grace ? 

Man has, 'tis true, a higher bliss, 

A mightier resource, than this ; 

Yet God's own works the soul will cheer. 

And often render e'en more dear 

The star of consolation here. 

They seemed to leave me to my fate, 
Perchance that I might meditate. 
The first day of my sojourn there. 
When day was over with its care. 



217 

I heard right merry voices near ; 
And soon, approaching, did appear 
The laborers from hill and glen, — 
A set of sturdy boys and men. 
I heard them come with laugh and shout ; 
And soon, around, within, without, 
All, all was gayety and life. 
There was the child, the busy wife. 
The husband, help of every shade. 
From chore-boy up to dairy-maid, — 
All from the cornfield and from bower, 
Collecting for the supper-hour. 

They talked of me, I'm very sure ; 
For, after the repast was o'er. 
In rushed man, woman, boy and girl. 
So quick it made my poor head whirl : 
Yes, in they came, — the short, the tall. 
The stout, the young, the old and all, — 
To look at me. I hardly knew 
Whither to look, or what to do : 
So many tongues, so many eyes. 
Commenting on my face, my size, 
My skill, all trying to explain, 
I really felt a little vain. 



218 

At last they left, pronouncing me 
A nice old clock as e'er they see. 

The spare room mine was called, I found, 

And through the household quite renowned 

For its nice things and beauty rare ; 

And ever was it kept with care, 

Yet always airy, open, free : 

This gave much happiness to me. 

Yet much time did I spend alone. 

Ere very long, I found I'd grown 

Quite fond of solitude ; for here 

Was every thing the heart to cheer. 

That lovely nature can bestow. 

Yet I must own my heart did glow 

When first my master came to see 

His pleasant country-seat and - — me. 

He brought his lady ; and they seemed 

Rejoiced, delighted much, I deemed. 

The pent-up city to exchange 

For the sweet air, and pleasant range 

Of grove and lawn. 'Tis only those 

Whom gloomy city-walls enclose. 

When the returning, gladdening Spring 

Her brightest ofi'erings doth bring, , 



219 

Can tell what rapture to the heart 
Her fascinations do impart, 
When first, 'mid charms of hill and dale, 
They breathe the invigorating gale. 
That visit I remember well. 
And could, I think, correctly tell 
The conversation, — all they said : 
They talked of living friends, and dead ; 
Of vanished days, past scenes, — of me ; 
Of grove and walk and shrubbery. 
My master told of many a plan 
To beautify the place, — dear man ! 
His visits ever gave me joy. 
For I had loved him from a boy. 

Soon, quite familiar I became 
With many a novel face and name. 
Short were the visits made to me ; 
Yet I could hear as well as see. 
And much of merit soon I knew : 
Kind, honest feelings, warm and true. 
Like flowers in wild, uncultured ground. 
Which yet shed fragrance sweet around. 
Existed near me. There was one. 
From morn till setting of the sun, 



220 

Seemed ever in a hurry : she 

Did mucli true mirth afford to me. 

Her exclamations were so queer, 

So oft resounded far and near, 

So often made whate'er befell, 

They really did amuse me well. 

They called her Lotty. Well I knew 

Ever what Lotty meant to do. 

So much, so much, she had on hand, 

I often wished for magic wand 

To help her on. *' Oh dear ! " she'd say, 

*' I wonder what's the time of day." 

Then in she'd bounce to look at me : 

" My heart ! 'tis almost half-past three ; 

Oh mercy ! can it be so late 1 

I must go right about it straight'^ 

In short, whene'er I met her eyes, 

She would express extreme surprise. 

" 'Tis shocking late, I do declare," 

Was one of her expressions rare. 

She ne'er was seen at early morn : 

" 'Tis seven, as true as I am born ; " 

Or else, " O Lor' ! 'tis almost eight : 

Who would have thought it was so late 1 

And then there was so much to do, 

Poor Lotty ! I did pity you. — 



221 

The sahhatli-morning ever brought 

A sweet and quiet joy. I thought. 

And still do think, in region calm. 

Each beauty wears a softer charm 

At that dear hour. I could hear 

One sound that ever on mine ear 

Fell soft and sweet and musical : 

It was the gentle sabbath-bell ; 

Now ringing soft, now ringing high. 

If fresher gales went floating by ; 

Now sounding clear, o'er wild and lea. 

Its unpretending melody. 

I loved to listen. To my heart 

It ever did a joy impart 

To see the quiet gathering there, 

To worship at the house of prayer. 

I saw them ever on their way, 

On morn of pleasant sabbath- day : 

From hill, from dale, from cottage near, 

From each stray path they would appear, 

All neatly clothed in simple dress. 

Sure, nature, in her loveliness, 

Doth seem to shed a brighter glow, 

A deeper beauty to bestow, 

On all her works, from sky serene 

To waving fields of living green, 



222 

On morning of that quiet day 
Which bids the weary meet and pray. 

Old Winter, with his charms so few, 
Was pleasant in the country too. 
My master seldom there was seen. 
When Winter, with his cheerless mien. 
Reigned over garden, grove, and bower : 
Yet many a joyous, social hour 
The inmates of that mansion knew, 
When labors and when cares were few. 
Oft have I witnessed them prepare 
For some right merry party there : 
How brisk ! there never was a pause ; 
Oh ! then how busy Lotty was ! 
Then would the bright fire blaze away. 
While sportive shouts, and laughter gay, 
And apples, pies, and cakes, and tea, 
Took precedence alternately. 

Yes, various were the scenes I knew. 
And various the people too. 
In that abode. In season fair 
My master often would bring there 
His friends, to pass a quiet day, 
From tumult and from care away. 



223 

Many of character and worth, 
In converse or in pleasant mirth, 
Would often pass an hour most sweet 
In this romantic, loved retreat. 
Some, much amusement did afford. 
Either by manner, dress, or word. 
One lady often did come there : 
She was quite young and gay and fair ; 
But, as I much of life had known, 
As many years had o'er me flown. 
And knew the use of phrases just, 
As all who wisely listen must 
To conversation chaste and good, 
I doubted if she understood 
The meaning of the words she chose. 
For instance, she would call a rose 
Of simplest kind, or wild wee flower. 
She found in meadow or in bower, 
Magnificent. A plum or pear. 
Perchance of some slight merit rare, 
Was elegant and splendid. And, 
Two acres, possibly, of land. 
Containing here and there a tree, 
In wild luxuriance waving free, 
Was a wild forest, most immense, 
Most grand in its magnificence. 



224 

She called an hour an age of time ; 

A little rivulet, suhlime. 

A prettj^ lady, rather fair, 

Of fashionable look and air, 

Was a most perfect creature, — oh ! 

How strange if you did not think so ! 

One slightly to be plain inclined, 

Such as in life we often find. 

But yet not homely, was, she said. 

Most liorrid ugly. Gingerbread, 

Ay, gingerbread, I heard her say, 

As she was eating it one day, 

Was glorious ; — that did startle me ; 

" 'Tis glorious gingerhread,'' said she. 

This is the climax now, thought I : 

You can't soar higher if you try. 

And thus did year succeed to year; 
And, every season, still more dear 
To me became my quiet home. 
I never thought from there to roam. 
I was the oracle to all, 
Consulted let whate'er befall : 
How they would run to look at me, 
Eager what I did say to see ! 



225 

How they would quick convey my word 
To all, where'er it could be heard ! 
I felt I was their leader, guide. 
Their friend, companion, and their pride. 
There was but one, but one beside, 
They e'er consulted ; asked to know 
How time, old busy time, did go. 
Who could that rival be, that one 1 
I speak with reverence, — 'twas the sun. 
One day, as I in happy mood 
Was gazing in my solitude 
On hill and dale, three men appeared ; 
There was a something that I feared 
In their rough looks and aspect rude : 
" I fear they have not come for good, 
" I thought : what brings them here 1 " 
But how I trembled o'er with fear 
When eagerly they seized on me. 
And hurried me, 'mid bower and tree, 
From this enchanting place away ! 
" Oh, stop ! " I longed, I longed, to say, 
" Or mention why you take me hence : 
Speak, speak, to mitigate suspense." 
But not a word that could convey 
Their meaning to me did they say ; 
15 



226 

What they intended ; wherefore I 

Was carried off. Despairingly 

I looked with eagerness around ; 

And soon, as we progressed, I found 

That we were entering the place 

Nor time nor absence could erase 

From out my memory, — 'twas the same, 

The town I loved, — to which I came 

In youth, so gay, so joyous-hearted, 

To meet with those long since departed. 

Soon, too, a glimpse, a view, I had 

Of the dear house ; but very sad 

To me, alas ! the changes there. 

It was, I doubted not, more fair. 

More pleasing unto modern eye, 

Painted and altered ; yet did I 

Recall its ancient look, and knew, 

The moment we did come in view. 

The sacred, dear old mansion well. 

Ah me ! I cannot, cannot tell 

My feelings, wishes, when we came 

Close to the door, — the very same, 

The well-known, venerable door, 

I'd thought to never enter more. 

They took me in ; and must I turn 

From that dear room 1 — my heart did burn 



227 

To enter there — alas ! no, no ! 
I must unto the kitchen go. 
" Oh, shame on man ! — perchance I'm wrong 
I have been cherished, worshipped long, 
I thought : now, sure I ought to be 
Resigned where'er he places me. 
What, if I cannot well descry 
The reason for these changes, why- 
New objects beautiful to view 
Are dearer than the old and true ; 
Yet, yet when it doth not extend. 
This feeling, unto human friend. 
It may be right, — I'll murmur not ; 
Resigned I'll be whate'er my lot ; 
Thankful that yet some good may be 
Effected, as I trust, by me." 
These were the sentiments I had, 
Mingled with feelings very sad. 
They placed me up, and soon I heard 
Around me many a flowing word : 
My master suddenly had died ; 
His son, who was the father's pride 
In former years, had late returned 
From foreign country, as I learned, 
In time to bid a last adieu 
To his beloved father, who 



228 

No more, alas ! could soothe or cheer 

The heart of fellow-mortal here. 

The mansion-house and country-seat, 

Both to my recollection sweet, 

Were now inherited by one 

Whom I'd not seen for years, — his son. 

They said the old house pleased him Avell, 

And he was coming there to dwell 

With wife and family. One day, 

He chanced, I heard, to hear them say 

A clock would quite convenient be 

Where I was placed ; so sent for me. 

Meaning with new things to refit. 

When he had time to see to it. 

The house in country. Thus was I 

Stationed where naught I could descry 

But cooking, rubbing, scrubbing, — ah ! 

Blame, blame me not, if oft afar 

My thoughts would wander ; yet I knew 

'Twas very right all this to do ; 

And man's employment, let it be 

What asks for mental energy, 

Or bodily activity. 

Ever affords an interest still. 

This, surely do I deem the will. 



229 

The wise decree, of Heaven above, 
Ordained in kindness and in love. 
What could recall a wandering heart. 
And self-forgetfulness impart 
To many a weary one, and lone. 
Were not this charm o'er labor thrown 1 

When first a sight, a view, I had 

Of my new master, I felt sad 

To see the changes years had made : 

I could not easily persuade 

Myself he was indeed the boy 

I once had known, — his father's joy. 

Now he was tall and worn and grey ; 

Youth's joyous smile had fled away 

From his dark eye ; and grief and care, 

And many thoughts profound, were there. 

His children, whom I'd never known, 

I found, to my surprise, had grown 

To men and women. What is life. 

With all its never-ceasing strife 

For happiness and bliss 1 Alas ! 

How soon, how rapidly doth pass 

Man's little, fleeting life away ! 

To me it seems but as a day. 



230 

An liour of time. When I retrace, 
What time has ne'er, will ne'er efface, 
The days and years for ever flown. 
The generations I have known, 
And all the changes I have seen, 
I start, that I, a frail machine, 
Man's own invention, yet should be 
Existing, beating vigorously. 
Long after he doth pass away. 
But, ah ! his life is but -a ray 
Of that to be ; while mine is o'er, 
Never to tell of changes more, 
In time that will, that must away ; 
For transient is earth's longest day. 

I found that in my station new 
They wished me ever to be true. 
And tell the time exact to all ; 
For regularly would they call 
On me a certain hour to name. 
And with precision to proclaim. 
Ere breakfast for the parlor gay. 
Or dinner, mightier, went away. 
The dinner-hour, oh, what a time ! 
My master thought it quite a crime 



231 

If all things were not ready quite, 

All nicely dished before the sight, 

When I proclaimed the hour had come ; 

And then, how eagerly would some 

Catch up the dishes to convey 

Them swift to dining-room away ! 

But on these things I shall not dwell, 

Or mysteries of the kitchen tell : 

My thoughts would often stray away 

To verdant lawn, or meadow gay ; 

I'd hear the rushing breezes blow, 

Or see the sunny streamlets flow ; 

Yes, oft would fancy to that home 

Of purity and beauty roam, 

Where nature wore so sweet a dress, 

Where all around was loveliness. 

And other, dearer thoughts would come, 

Bringing sweet memories of some 

Never forgot. The room I knew, 

Where round me strayed the fond and true. 

How near me now ! Yet where were they 1 

Alas ! had all then passed away 1 

What holy thoughts would ever gush, 

What tender, sacred feelings rush 

From my sad heart, whenever thought 

The memory of one being brought ! 



232 

My mistress, with her young, sweet face, 
My mistress, with her matron grace, 
My mistress, with her aged brow, 
Seemed ever present to me now ; 
I seemed to hear the voice, the tone, 
That never from my heart has flown ; 
I seemed to view the love and care 
That shed its influence everywhere. 
Yet why, why is it that I dwell 
On musings sad, and wherefore tell 
The thoughts my retrospections gave 1 
Perchance 'tis sympathy I crave. 
I was not happy : none, for me, 
As I, alas ! could not but see, 
Did truly and sincerely care ; 
Then there was such confusion there, 
Such bustling, noise, commotion wild, 
I longed for movements calm and mild, 
I longed 'mid gentler scenes to be, 
I longed for sweet tranquillity. 

The lady of the house was gay ; 
To balls and parties went away 
Quite often, and oft had them too ; 
I seldom saw her ; well I knew 



233 

She was not mjjlrst mistress dear, 

And that quite changed were all things here. 

One night, when silence reigned around. 
And all were wrapt in slumber sound, 
As I in calm and sober mood 
Was working on in solitude, 
Just as the midnight hour I gave, 
With solemn strokes profound and grave, 
A sudden and a dazzling light. 
More overpowering and more bright 
Than I had ever seen before. 
Illumined ceiling, wall, and floor : 
It seemed to burst, to my amaze. 
In one full, rushing, glorious blaze. 
Directly in the room. Just then 
I heard, without, the noise of men ; 
The din, confusion, still came nigher. 
And then the dreadful cry of fire ! 
'Twas no mistake : distinct and clear 
The cry uprose ; while, fast and near. 
The flames were spreading. Did I fear ? 
Not for myself, but oh ! for those 
Now wrapt, I thought, in deep repose. 
Soon did the flame and scream increase : 
" No, no, they cannot sleep in peace," 



234 

I thought again ; and I was right. 

Amazed and trembling with affright, 

I saw them running here and there : 

My master sure seemed everywhere. 

The flames quite soon were quelled near me ; 

But quickly did I hear and see 

They were extending far away, 

And very soon I heard them say 

The entire house was in a blaze. 

Then burst again bright, fearful rays 

Within my room. Oh, dreadful hour ! 

Not mine indeed the skill and power 

To tell, describe it as I should : 

Untouched, unthought of, there I stood, 

While eager hands conveyed away 

Rich furniture and trappings gay. 

" 'Twas right, they ought to pass me by," 

I sadly thought ; "for what am I ? " 

I thought I soon should suffocate. 

And felt resigned unto my fate. 

Now, now I felt the scorching blaze ; 

But instantly I with amaze 

Found they were tearing me away. 

Of the next hour I cannot say ; 

'Twas all confusion, din, and noise. 

The stunning din of men and boys ; 



235 

But, when my senses came aright, 

I found my swift and rapid flight 

Had not been far ; but, 'gainst a wall, 

Quite near the house, so stout and tall 

As well to guard me, I was placed. 

I stood in such a way, I faced 

The burning house and all the street, 

And felt no trouble from the heat, 

As the wild gale blew far from me 

The rapid flames ; and I could see 

They were extending far away. 

All objects were as bright as day. 

It was a solemn, awful sight ; 

Each building seemed enrolled in light, 

In one bright, dazzling, crimson blaze : 

With what amazement did I gaze 

On this sublime, terrific scene ! 

And then the thrilling cry of men. 

Commanding here, entreating there, 

All hastening, fleeing everywhere. 

Quite far away mine eye could range ; 

And I soon found a wondrous change 

Had taken place in that small town. 

'Twas not a place of much renown 

When first I came a stranger there ; 

Now there were streets and buildings rare, 



236 

And promenades, and much to grace 

A thriving, large, and wealthy place ; 

*' And ah, the flames ! methinks they cease. 

No, no, they surely do increase," 

With 'wildered, anxious gaze I thought, 

As building after building caught. 

Oh, what a sight ! and when came down 

The sacred spires of this fair town, 

I deemed the fell destroyer's wing 

Had touched some breathing, living thing. 

Around me in confusion wild, 

Crowding me fearfully, were piled 

Chairs, tables, heaps of various things, 

As such occasion ever brings 

To outward view ; and oh ! the cries. 

The clamor of rude men, the sighs. 

And noisy talk of women there, 

The running, jostling, and despair, 

"With the fierce engines all around, 

Did truly my poor heart astound. 

Yet much I marked on that sad night 

I never shall forget ; my sight 

Was cheered and blessed with many a view 

Of Charity's sweet works. I knew 



237 

Her gentle form amid the din, 
Where'er she moved ; and oh ! the sin 
Purloining, I beheld ! 'twas sad 
To find there could be hearts so bad, 
At such an hour of suiFering rare. 
To add one mite to the despair. 

When ruddy morning dawned, no more 
The flames gave terror ; they were o'er ; 
But dark and dismal wreaths of smoke 
From every nook and cellar broke ; 
'Twas desolation all around : 
Where was the city's cheerful sound ? 
Huge chimneys glared upon the view, 
While beings, far between and few. 
Were prowling round, as if to see, 
To ponder o'er their destiny. 
The mass of men were seen no more : 
Their recent wearying work was o'er, 
And they had gone to seek awhile 
The sweets of rest. Ah, sad the smile 
The sun bestowed upon that day ! 
What objects fair had passed away 
Since last he rose upon that town ! 
How had the hopes of man gone down ! 



238 

How many, then 'mid wealth and glee, 
Were now, alas ! in misery ! 

But one dear place, one spot, seen there, 

Demanded far the greatest share 

Of interest intent from me : 

And should I never, never see 

That house beloved, revered, again 1 

Why ask 1 no trace was of it seen. 

Save four huge blackened chimneys tall : 

Alas ! alas ! they then were all 

That now remained of that fair place. 

The mansion-house of the dear race 

I long had known, — 'twas sad to me. 

Ah ! very sad, such sight to see. 

Yes, gloomy were my thoughts that morn. 

As to my saddened heart were borne 

Visions for ever passed away. 

Dear cherished scenes of bygone day. 

Yet why my reveries relate 1 

The day advanced ; and what my fate, 

Now helpless and forlorn, might be, 

What scenes, what doom awaited me, 

I could not tell. Soon, far and near, 

Did many people now appear ; 



239 

Some gazing eagerly around, 

With look and attitude profound, 

To find amid the medleys rare 

Their honest own, — oh, what despair, 

What talk and murmuring, were there ! 

Some came the ruins sad to see 

From simple curiosity ; 

But 'mid them all, methought, were none 

WTio knew or cared for me, — not one ! 

How lone I felt amid this crowd ! 

But hark ! I heard a voice, — not loud, 

Yet sure familiar to mine ear, 

And very soon it came quite near : 

" Oh ! did you ever ? look up there ! 

'Tis our old clock / do declare ! 

Oh, mercy ! mercy ! do just see ! 

It will be smothered certainly ! " 

Lotty ! ne'er before your voice 
Did half as much my heart rejoice; 
And when upon you I did gaze, 
And saw your pleasure and amaze, 

1 felt of gratitude a thrill 

That to this moment lingers still. 
Now, she to her companion talked, 
And very soon away they walked. 



240 

Ere very long, who should appear 
But my own master wandering near ? 
He gazed on me, — ah ! Lott has told ; 
She thinks me worth my weight in gold, 
" But yoii do not, dear sir, I know," 
Thought I, — his troubled face said so ; 
He spoke of me to some one near : 
" Give it," he said, " to Agnes Vere." 

Now, Agnes Vere I long had known : 
Ay, many fleeting years had flown 
Since first she came a little girl, 
With modest brow and flowing curl, 
To my first mistress dear, to be 
Made useful till her time was free, 
Or brought up in her family. 
She was an orphan when she came ; 
And ever did it seem the aim 
Of my kind, worthy mistress dear 
To be a friend she need not fear, — 
A mother and instructress too. 
And in the cold world there are few 
Would so requite the love and care, 
The learning and the precepts fair, 
Bestowed in early life, as did 
Good Agnes Vere. She always said 



241 

She loved my mistress more, far more, 
Than she could tell ; and, when were o'er 
Her infant days, she yet did stay, 
And never from her went away. 
At the last death-scene she was near, — 
The kind, the faithful Agnes Vere. 

She ever after lived alone 
In a neat cottage of her own, 
Not far away ; and well I knew 
She loved me with affection true. 
Ay, almost idolized whate'er 
Belonged to any member dear 
Of family ^0 prized. Tome, 
I felt it would give joy to see 
Her loved and loving face again. 
At this sad moment too ; and when 
I heard distinct my master say, 
" To Agnes Vere give it away," 
I felt, — although a thrill of pain, 
A feeling I could not refrain, 
Came to my sad and beating heart. 
When finding I was doomed to part 
With the old family so dear, — 
That yet the name of Agnes Vere 
Was quite enough that heart to cheer, 
16 



242 

And, as it did, diffuse o'er me 
A sweet and glad serenity. 

Quite soon for me they cleared a space, 

And I was taken from the place 

Where I had heard and witnessed more 

Than I had ever done before. 

Ere long, I left this gloomy street. 

And soon was carried to a neat, 

A darling little cottage near, 

And quick was seen by Agnes Vere. 

She seemed delighted when we met ; 

Her joy I never shall forget ; 

" The dear old clock ! " I heard her say. 

And then a tear she wiped away. 

*' The dear old clock ! — and mine to be 1 

I've loved it from my infancy." 

How thankful was her glance and look. 

When a benign survey she took 

Of happy me ! — " Oh, it will grace 

My little room ! and now what place 

Will be the very best for it ? " 

There was not one she would admit 

Quite good enough, but did decide. 

At length, where I could safe abide, 



243 

And yet be seen direct by all 

Her friends, whene'er they came to call. 

How peaceful seemed this little room, 

After the late turmoil and gloom 

That I had seen ! I felt the change, 

As o'er the scene mine eye did range ; 

It soothed my heart ; while Agnes Vera 

Sat calmly meditating near. 

Soon she her ancient Bible took, 

And, opening the sacred book, 

Read a sublime thanksgiving psalm : 

Her heart to Him, who, free from harm, 

In hour of danger and alarm 

Had guarded her, she seemed to raise 

In fervent gratitude and praise. 

As I regarded her, I deemed 

She rather sad and weary seemed : 

Much had her willing hands, I knew, 

In the late conflict found to do ; 

Yes, she was weary, grieved for those 

Summoned from rest and from repose 

In fearful moment of despair, 

When the wild terrifying glare, 

Brightening around them, challenged strife, 

Contest for property and life. 



244 

Often would Agnes look at me : 

It gave me happiness to see 

How gratified she seemed to be 

That I was hers. I knew I brought 

To her pure spirit many a thought 

Of vanished day, of scenes gone by ; 

And, when I heard her gentle sigh, 

I knew remembrances were sad : 

Yet when I marked how bright and glad 

Her eye did kindle, well I knew 

That some were gay, and joyous too. 

Many good friends were in that day. 
And much did Agnes have to say 
Concerning the late fire and me ; 
And much was told to her of the 
Affairs without. Well, days went by, 
Time flew away, and yet did I 
In my sweet, quiet home delight. 
It was, it still is, to my sight 
Delightful. Here I hope to be 
As long as time is aught to me. 
Yes, in this quiet cottage here, 
With my kind, faithful Agnes Vere, 
I hope to pass my days away. 
And list to all she has to say 



1 

? 



245 

Of scenes we both remember well : 
How I delight to hear her tell 
Of my dear, early mistress, who 
So well, so perfectly, she knew 
How much, she says, to her she owes 
And how with gratitude o'erflows 
Her honest, glowing heart, whene'er 
She tells of it ! Good Agnes Vere ! 

Hither do friends quite often come ; 
And very often there are some 
Descendants from that well-known race, 
That will for ever hold a place 
Within my heart. Agnes, with pride. 
Doth say that there are few beside 
The world doth quite as much revere. 
As some descended from our dear 
Beloved mistress. Happy me 
They love to talk of and to see, 
Whene'er they come. I heard them say, 
With pleasure, as I thought, one day. 
That my late master had a new, 
Fine house erected ; standing too 
Upon the very, very spot 
Where stood the last, — the mansion-lot. 



246 

And the whole town, they now do say, 
Is far more beautiful and gay 
Than e'er before, — rebuilt with care, 
And pleasant, thriving, everywhere. 

Oft, too, to cheer me, doth appear 
My country friends, — and Lotty here 
Delights in converse long and rare : 
The other day, she did declare, 
Had it not been for her, I ne'er 
Should have been seen by Agnes Vere ; 
For if she had have held her breath, 
I should have been all crushed to death ! 

And Agnes hath not ceased to tell 
Of all that on that night befell, 
But will, at times, when friends we see. 
Talk yet about the fire and me. 
Dear Agnes ! with thy home so neat. 
Thy heart so pure, thy roses sweet 
Twining the open window through, 
When gentle summer comes anew ; 
Or thou, when winter doth appear, 
.Still calm and happy sitting near. 
How much thou'rt reverenced by me ! 
Each day do I discern in thee 



247 

Some lovely trait, some virtue new : 
It seems thy first desire to do, 
All unobserved, thy duty here ; 
Kind, gentle, saint-like Agnes Vere ! 

And now what more have I to tell ? 
I've learnt to say, to know, " AlVs well,'' 
Whate'er may hap to mortal man ; 
That all contributes to a plan 
He cannot peneti-ate or know. 
What if the raging tempests blow 
With frown terrific and severe ? 
Be still, — and know thy God is near ! 
What if death stares thee in the face, 
And from thy tender, dear embrace. 
Friend, parent, child beloved, are riven ? 
Be calm, — there is a God in heaven ! 



THE END. 



X5 7 # 
















^^^ s. 



"''<^^'-..o' ^^ 






^ -* ^ 
^ik * 









% ^^ ^ ' /^Va:<' %. J" *'f?^&^ ^^ ^ 










«J> * O « ^ O, 



^^.^ 



" ^ "til* -^^ ^ 



. ' ^ ^^ "^ y^'^^/h.o %^ ^'^^ ^''^^^^^ ^ ^^. ..^ 







^-0.^^'' .*. 



•^^^^' 







». ^r>^^* '^^^ v^^ /^'t ^--/ 









A*' ..--•. ** 













o ^ 



4Q, 








^^<^ 



%K^^ 








^oV' 







•J-^ ^ 
^^0^ 



.^ .^^"- 



^o. 



















